The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Thiruvananthapuram Corporation found itself on the defensive after a report submitted by the District Collector on waste management in the capital after Attukal Pongala contradicted the mayor’s claims.
While Mayor VV Rajesh said the civic body was able to complete the cleanup within hours of the festival, a report submitted by District Collector Anu Kumari to the government points out that the garbage removal was completed within three days only. Although the main roads were cleaned, there were still two days left after the festival to remove waste from other areas, including the temple grounds.
Waste management after Attukal Pongala turned into a political issue as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) accused the BJP-ruled corporation of failing in its duties, unlike in previous years when the corporation was praised for speedy disposal of waste from all areas.
The LDF organized cleaning activities at the Government Sanskrit College campus after it was found littered with Pongala waste five days after the festival. A council meeting held last week witnessed protests by LDF councilors against the mayor who claimed that proper waste management had failed.
The LDF also protested against the corporation dumping a large amount of garbage collected after Pongal on the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) plot near Eenchakkal, causing trouble to residents in the locality.
Published – 13 March 2026 21:12 IST
