THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Similar to the adage "Something's rotten in Denmark," the Kerala Assembly felt something was rotting at the Brahmapuram plant. The assembly witnessed a huge debate between the ruling and opposition fronts as both accused each other of being the source of corruption. Later, the opposition trooped to the well of the House and raised a banner preventing the Speaker from seeing what was happening. This led to a huge uproar in the Assembly.

Although Speaker AN Shamseer warned the opposition that he would take 'drastic steps', the uproar did not subside. Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan announced a boycott demanding a CBI investigation against the criminal process that filled poisonous gas in Kochi. The Speaker did not take 'drastic steps' until the opposition left the House at 11.36 am.

The opposition, led by TJ Vinod, presented an adjournment motion notice alleging that the government had been careless regarding the Brahmapuram problem. On the other hand, Health Minister Veena George and Local Self Government Minister MB Rajesh were optimistic that everything is going well.

The opposition got irked when MB Rajesh took a dig at the UDF by stating that he does not intend to blame anyone who gave the order to dump the garbage from the seven municipalities around the Kochi corporation into Brahmapuram.

When Chennithala raised doubts about the company that was awarded the contract for waste management, the minister defended the company. He claimed that this was the same company that treats the garbage in Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and in Raipur.

VD Satheesan slammed Rajesh, and Health Minister Veena George also came under heavy attack along with CM Vijayan.

"A CBI probe is the need of the hour on how the company, which won the tender to handle waste, got it. All know that this company has close links with a top CPI(M) leader. It's surprising how Rajesh can say this company is handling similar waste disposal in other states, when we all know this company, which won the tender, did not qualify for it, after it was found that they had no experience in handling more than 10 tonnes waste," said Satheesan.

"When the re-tender was done, this same company came up with a new certificate from a different official from Thirunelveli Municipal Corporation stating that they have handled more than 10 tonnes. Incidentally this same company is facing a case of cheating a German company. Also the Health Minister (Veena George) has done nothing and she keeps giving the same action-taken statement on successive days, even when a massive health emergency prevails in and around the waste plant site," said Satheesan.

With Satheesan going hammer and tongs, the treasury benches expressed their ire leading to confusion and things went haywire when his mike was put off. Soon there was more chaos and the Opposition boycotted the day's proceedings and the session came to an end.