Thiruvananthapuram: The simmering issue of garbage removal in the capital city came back to limelight yesterday, when tension prevailed in front of the city corporation where police had to strain to contain an altercation between the Congress councillors and the corporation staff.
Garbage removal in the capital hit a roadblock many months back, ever since the Vilappilsala village panchayat objected to the capital city’s wastes being processed in the village, arguing that it was causing unacceptable levels of environmental degradation in the village.
Today’s altercation between the Congress and corporation staff supporting Left parties also witnessed a war of words on the sidelines between the Thiruvananthapuram MP Sashi Tharoor and the city mayor K. Chandrika. “If one isn’t capable of handling the situation, one should quit and leave”, Tharoor said, targeting the mayor. She was quick to respond: “Is it because he was so capable that he had to resign the minister’s post and return to being just an MP?”
The United Democratic Front councillors blockaded the city corporation yesterday, alleging that the mayor had failed in solving the garbage crisis. The protestors clashed with some of the corporation staff, leading to the tense situation.
