Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, January 13, 2012: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has threatened to launch a sustained agitation against the state government in connection with the garbage issue in the city.

Lashing out at Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in connection with the issue, CPM district secretary Kadakampally Surendran alleged that CM was playing “petty politics”. The state government must urgently intervene in the issue and find an amicable solution otherwise the LDF would step up agitation, he added.

With garbage accumulating after the closure of the Vilappilsala garbage treatment plant, garbage movement from the city to the rural areas and city outskirts has increased, disrupting life there.

Several days have passed since the closure of the plant but the alternatives set up by the authorities have failed to create any impact. This has forced a section of traders and meat merchants to dispose of their waste in desolate places in the rural areas and in the outskirts of the city.

The waste from hotels is being dumped in the rural areas such as Beemapally, Poonthura and Vettukadu during night time. Garbage is piling up in almost all the streets in the rural areas and the stench emanating from the waste has made life miserable for local people and passersby.

Rodents, mosquitoes, and flies thrive here. Garbage also lies accumulated in various parts of the town. The local residents opined that they fear an outbreak of contagious diseases like dengue fever, malaria etc.

With the residents of Vilappilsala kicking up a big stink over the garbage treatment plant and the city corporation deciding to stop collection of waste from flats, apartments and hotels, a major crisis regarding waste treatment is looming over the city.