Waste bins inside buses, treatment plants in depots; govt out on a mission to clean up KSRTC

Thiruvananthapuram: In an attempt to make KSRTC depots and buses waste-free, the government plans to set up waste water purification plants in depotsand waste bins across the state. As part of this, waste treatment and wastewater purification plants will be installed in depots under "Waste-Free Nava Kerala" initiative. The decision was made in a meeting led by Ministers M.B. Rajesh and K.B. Ganesh Kumar.

Waste bins will be installed on KSRTC buses, along with signs stating "Do not litter." Depots will also be equipped with waste bins and treatment facilities, leveraging resources from the local self-government department.

Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) will be set up in major depots, including Thiruvananthapuram, with the assistance of local bodies. The possibility of mobile ETPs will also be explored. The ministers instructed officials to investigate reusing treated water from vehicle washing. The condition of restrooms in depots was also discussed during the meeting.

Local bodies will construct restrooms at locations designated by KSRTC. They will also provide underground STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants) and mobile STPs to purify wastewater from depots.

Depots with adequate waste management facilities will receive a ’Green Leaf’ rating from the Suchitwa Mission. The discussions were based on inspections conducted by KSRTC and Suchitwa Mission at 69 of the 93 depots. Inspections at the remaining depots will be completed soon.

The ministers directed KSRTC and Suchitwa Mission to prepare a framework for implementing projects in each depot by December 20.