Mayor V V Rajesh walks out without answering questions, criticises Collector

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor VV Rajesh has come forward against the District Collector's report, which stated that it took three days after the Attukal Pongala to complete the removal of waste in the city. The Mayor alleged that the state government pressured the Collector to submit a report against the Corporation. He also said that the correct report was the one submitted by the RDO, who was in charge of conducting the Pongala event,and had stated that the waste removal had been completed. When media persons raised questions about the Collector’s report during a press conference today, the Mayor left without responding.

In her report, Collector Anu Kumari stated that it took three days to complete the cleaning of the temple premises and that waste had still not been removed from some areas. The report supports allegations by the Left parties that the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation failed in properly clearing the Pongala waste. The Collector prepared the report after directly visiting the festival areas.

Meanwhile, the Collector has asked the Corporation Secretary to submit a report on how the waste dumped in places such as Eenchakkal will be processed. Pongala waste was reportedly dumped by the corporation at several locations, including land owned by the KSRTC in Eenchakkal, as well as Cheruvakkal and Mannanthala. At Eanchakkal, locals stopped attempts to bury the waste. Following the protest, the Collector sought a report from the Corporation Secretary on how the waste would be properly treated or disposed of.