Latest news with #MyKochi
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
UDF questions Kochi Corporation's claim of declaring city waste-free in two months
The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has questioned the Kochi Corporation's claim that the city will be declared waste-free in two months, citing what it alleged was a disproportion between the total number of commercial establishments in the city and the negligible number of those that have signed up for waste disposal through the civic body's My Kochi app. Mayor M. Anilkumar, at a council meeting on Thursday (May 29, 2025), had announced the launch of an intense drive to declare Kochi waste-free in two months. The UDF pointed out that, as per the Corporation's assessment register, there were over one lakh commercial establishments in the city, of which fewer than 25,000 had renewed their licences this year. Even fewer commercial establishments — less than 500 — had signed up for waste disposal through the Corporation's bulk waste management agency, Rebuild Kerala. 'This exposes the Corporation's claim of making the city waste-free as hollow, as there is no parity between the waste generated and scientifically disposed of. When so many commercial establishments are not within the Corporation's official ambit of waste disposal unauthorised dumping in public places is unlikely to end anytime soon making the intense drive to declare the city waste-free meaningless. What is needed is a feasible waste disposal system acceptable to the community of traders,' said M.G. Aristotle, UDF parliamentary party secretary in the Corporation. Mr. Anilkumar, however, dismissed the accusation as baseless. According to the Opposition, the Corporation spent ₹2.16 crore on waste management in March, while over ₹1 crore is due from commercial establishments classified as bulk waste generators. The Corporation has received only ₹64 lakh through waste collection. The Opposition also accused the Corporation of not even trying to monetise reusable waste, despite spending crores on waste treatment every month.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kochi corporation urged to adopt affordable waste management methods
KOCHI: As the Kochi Corporation has taken steps to become waste-free by August this year, the opposition alleged that out of the more than one lakh shops registered in the assessment register of the corporation, only 25,000 have been licensed, and of these, less than 500 establishments are handing over waste to authorised agencies. 'According to corporation records, over one lakh commercial establishments have obtained occupancy certificates to conduct business. These buildings pay a higher building tax than residences. But only less than 25,000 of these have been issued licences this year. Of these, Rebuild Kerala, the authorised agency to collect bulk waste through the MyKochi app, collects waste from less than 500 establishments,' said Antony Kureethara, the leader of opposition. He added that only a small portion of the waste generated in the city is being collected and that waste is being disposed of through illegal means. 'The corporation should take the initiative to provide a cost-effective waste disposal method for shops and establishments. In March, Rs 2.16 crore was spent on waste management. However, the corporation received only Rs 64 lakh out of more than Rs one crore it was supposed to receive from shops for collecting bulk waste,' said M G Aristottil, the UDF parliamentary party secretary. He extended full support of the UDF councillors to make the city waste-free through proper planning and action plans.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Heal Ponnurunni, CIFT collaborate for sustainable waste management
Kochi: HEAL Ponnurunni Society, which is engaged in sustainable waste management, is collaborating with Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT). CIFT officials and office-bearers of the society signed a memorandum of understanding for sustainable waste management on Friday. In the presence of mayor M Anilkumar, the memorandum was exchanged between CIFT director George Ninan and HEAL Ponnurunni Society president and corporation councillor Dipin Dileep. Ninan explained the technologies developed under Swachhta Action Plan to mayor. To promote environmental protection and waste management in agriculture, CIFT developed BioBoost and MicroBoost (a microbial mixture). As part of the agreement, these products will be provided to HEAL Ponnurunni. CIFT will assist in fertilizer production, testing and expanding HEAL model to other areas. Under the leadership of Dileep, activities of HEAL Ponnurunni Society became a new model for waste management. HEAL model, which involves collecting waste from homes and institutions, converting it into fertilizer and using it for agriculture, gained national attention. Waste management in the division has been made smarter through My Kochi app, with QR codes installed in 1,800 homes and institutions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pistol de sudură laser multifuncțional siginificant Află mai multe Undo Information on waste removal and fees can be accessed through the app. User fees are collected via POS machines, first implemented in this division. Waste collection is carried out by Haritha Karma Sena members. The collected waste is converted into enriched fertilizer and sold under the name HEAL Environment at Rs 30 per kg. Besides selling fertilizer, the society also engages in farming on vacant plots in the division under agreements with landowners. Currently, various crops, including banana and eggplant, are cultivated on 76 cents. Sale of agricultural produce is conducted through HEAL Harvest outlet at the society's headquarters located under Vyttila flyover.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
1,900 households registered under Digital Haritha Karma Sena
Heal Ponnurunni Society (HPS) in the Ponnurunni East division of the Kochi Corporation, which has emerged as a model in sustainable waste management since its inception in December 2023, has set a new benchmark in QR code-based user fee collection for doorstep waste collection by the Haritha Karma Sena. A total of 1,828 households have been registered across the division. In May alone, ₹1.98 lakh was collected as user fees under the Digital Heal Haritha Karma Sena initiative, while the total collection since the launch of the project stands at ₹38.67 lakh. Outstanding dues amount to ₹6.58 lakh. The QR code-based user fee system has been integrated into Kochi Corporation's multi-purpose app, My Kochi. 'Ours is perhaps the only division in the State where QR code-based user fee collection has been fully implemented. Elsewhere, scanning the QR code only reveals whether a household is giving its waste to Haritha Karma Sena or not. In our case, multiple households in the same multi-storeyed buildings have been brought under the QR system using separate building numbers issued by the Corporation,' said Dipin Dileep, division councillor. The waste collected is scientifically and hygienically converted into organic manure, without leaving any room for residents to complain about issues such as foul odour. Two months ago, HPS began marketing its organic manure under the brand name Heal Environment. The enriched manure is sold at ₹30 per kilogram and the raw manure form at ₹20 per kilogram through a small outlet near the Vyttila flyover. The product has received a positive response, with repeat customers generating ₹31,726 in sales during the period. 'We are also engaged in organic farming using our own manure on vacant plots, based on agreements with the landowners. Currently, we are cultivating vegetables on 76 cents spread across four such plots in the division. The produce is sold under the brand Heal Harvest, which has brought in ₹57,158 so far, along with ₹12,481 from the sale of grow bags. The initiative also addresses complaints about vacant plots turning into dumping yards,' Mr. Dileep added. The Kochi Corporation has also granted HPS permission to collect waste from small establishments that are not classified as bulk waste generators. The income from these initiatives helps HPS cover its operational expenses, including staff wages.
