Kochi: The district administration is set to submit a land acquisition proposal to the Kerala Solid Waste Management Programme (KSWMP) for the establishment of an integrated waste management plant at Ayyankuzhi. This move comes in response to long-standing demands from local residents, who have been urging authorities to take over their holdings as the area has become unfit for residential purposes due to severe pollution.
Collector Announces Plan During Meeting
District Collector G Priyanka disclosed this plan during a meeting with the residents of Ayyankuzhi held on Tuesday. The land in question is situated between two central public sector enterprises, namely BPCL Kochi Refinery and Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd (HOCL). The collector instructed that necessary assistance be provided to the affected individuals until a final decision on land acquisition is reached.
Support for Affected Families
During the meeting, the collector requested HOCL to offer educational financial support to the children of the affected families. Additionally, BPCL was asked to distribute food kits to those impacted by the pollution and relocation.
On July 8, 2025, more than 40 families were relocated from the Ayyankuzhi area following the spread of smoke caused by an underground cable explosion and fire at the BPCL refinery. The incident highlighted the hazardous living conditions in the vicinity.
The proposed integrated waste management plant is expected to address the waste disposal needs of the region while providing a safer environment for the relocated families. The district administration is expediting the process to ensure timely submission of the proposal to KSWMP.
