Time to stop blame game

Mudslinging goes in full swing inside the legislative assembly while the garbage issue in the capital city remains unsolved. The blame game between the ruling party and the opposition has insofar yielded no results. The repeated tussle and failed debates over the issue have only aggravated the crisis with people continuing to throw garbage on roads with impunity.

Imposing fines on people who throw garbage is prudent but will not work wonders to change the vile attitude. Long-term plans should be formulated for the disposal of inorganic waste while strengthening temporary measures. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called an all-party meeting this Saturday to make garbage-free Kerala a reality. It would be ideal if the political parties involved resort to prudent discussion rather than engaging in blame games.

Moreover, each party should suggest a proposal to solve the issue rather than wait for the government’s decision. A system consisting not only of political parties, voluntary organizations and residents' associations but also of young women and private companies, who are mobilized regardless of party, should work to make the project a reality.

It is a sickening trend in Kerala that we tend to discuss matter only when it reaches the zenith of destruction. If not for the Amayizhanjan canal issue, the government would not have cared to call for an all-party meeting on the issue. In the last 25 years, the level of inorganic waste has increased to such an extent. Bottled water and plastic liquor bottles bought from beverages are common on roads and ditches.

Foreign countries stick to hygienic standards and value the ethos of cleanliness. They have introduced several schemes for eliminating waste with people following them very obsequiously.

If the corporation in Thiruvananthapuram falls short of making the project a reality, let a private company try their luck with the same project. With the horrific example of Vilappilsala right in front of us, how can we blame the people for their opposition to setting up the inorganic processing plant?