Kozhikode Corporation faces opposition over West Hill STP project

Protest is brewing against the Kozhikode Corporation’s move to establish a sewage treatment plant (STP) in the West Hill division (Ward 73).

The Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Protection Committee has come out against the civic body’s plan to set up the plant in the Shanti Nagar colony area. In a statement, the committee said the move to shift the STP — abandoned in areas such as Avikkal and Sarovaram following strong public opposition — to Shanti Nagar, where hundreds of ordinary families, including Scheduled Caste residents, live, amounted to a violation of constitutional rights.

Satheesh Parannur, patron of the committee, demanded that the Corporation withdraw its move to establish the plant in a residential area and relocate it elsewhere. He said the Corporation’s policy of turning Scheduled Caste settlements into a “dumping yard for development” under the guise of lame justifications should end.

He also warned that if the Corporation failed to revoke the “anti-people” decision, the committee would launch strong protest programmes centred around the Corporation office.

The Shanti Nagar Residents Association has submitted a complaint to Corporation secretary N.K. Hareesh regarding the construction of the STP.

Meanwhile, West Hill Ward councillor K. Saritha said the Corporation had not yet revealed the full details of the project.

“Earlier, the STP was planned at Avikkal. Due to strong protests by the people there, the former West Hill councillor pointed out this location as an alternative. Later, an all-party meeting was convened under the leadership of the District Collector. Subsequently, during the term of the previous Corporation council, an agenda was passed to establish the STP here. However, despite repeated demands, the detailed project report [DPR] has still not been made available even to me,” Ms. Saritha said.

She also expressed doubts over how the STP was proposed to operate. “There is no clear answer to the question of whether the treated water will be discharged into the sea. We do not agree with releasing it into the sea. The Corporation should explore an alternative arrangement. At the same time, the full details of the project should be made public,” the councillor said.

Ms. Saritha added, “If you look at the STP at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, there have been several issues with its functioning. Projects may be started, but there is often no proper system in place for operation and maintenance. That is why people are worried.”