A contentious debate has erupted within Kochi’s municipal corridors, with opposition councillors vehemently contesting the imposition of user fees on sanitary waste collection from households.
In a bid to defray the costs associated with biomedical waste management, the Kochi Corporation had forged an agreement with Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (KEIL) in June 2023. This accord facilitated the treatment of biomedical waste, including sanitary waste, with the involvement of a private enterprise tasked with waste collection and subsequent delivery to KEIL. “Even the court had pulled up the corporation for charging excessive fee for collecting sanitary napkins. It is the responsibility of the corporation to collect the waste from households as it levies surcharges for the purpose. But the authorities have entrusted another agency to collect sanitary waste. It is like promoting privatisation,” said Antony Kureethara, opposition leader.
Originally slated at Rs 55 per kilogram, the proposed fee triggered widespread public outcry, precipitating a project delay and necessitating a recalibration of the fee structure. Subsequently, the Corporation opted to enlist the services of a private firm for waste collection at a revised rate of Rs 12 per kilogram, contending that residents would solely bear the burden of transportation charges while the Corporation shoulders the cost of waste treatment plus associated GST obligations. Opposition councillors rebuff this rationale, decrying what they perceive as exorbitant levies disproportionately imposed on residents already subject to waste surcharges. Their contention posits that the Corporation is failing in its duty by outsourcing waste management responsibilities to private entities while imposing additional financial burdens on the populace.
The contentious issue underscores broader debates surrounding municipal waste management practices and the equitable distribution of associated costs. As stakeholders continue to grapple with the intricacies of waste governance, the controversy surrounding Kochi’s sanitary waste fees underscores the imperative for transparent, participatory policymaking processes.
