Kozhikode is one of the fast growing cities in Kerala with a combination of
traditional fervor and modern constructions. But the unscientific
building culture and poor environment protection, the development
has become a hazard to residents as well as tourists.
A foreign
tourist who was walking along Palayam near Kozhikode Railway Station
stopped at the signboard at Mele Palayam junction and asked his
Keralite aid, ‘What is written on the board in your language?’
The aid
replied, “Mêlé Palayam, the location/road name.”
A surprised
tourist, who came to the city first time, said sorry to his
companion and added that he mistook it, as a spot for dumping
garbage.
This is just
one out of many such events encircling Kozhikode city regarding its
poor garbage management. While it is a very difficult task to
dispose garbage in an hourly basis in a fast growing city like
Kozhikode, still, the corporation authorities have failed to run its
routine schedule properly.
The mechanism
of garbage disposal has been widely affected and Resident’s
Associations took the issue before the concerned departments.
Traffic
congestion, monsoon blockade, unscientific drainages, polluted
surroundings and poor public sanitation facilities are the major
setback of an emerging Calicut city.
While blessed
with major historic and cultural monuments and places of tourist
interest; the city has been swelling with unimaginable town planning
and negligence. The greatest contradiction is; one side the
investment in health sector is booming in multi billion crores.
Other side unhealthy environment is taking hold. Totally the
Zamorin’s city, once famous for its greenery and prosperous
enlightenment is in a near mess situation.
Once the
monsoon shower turns active, low lying areas of the city would be
filled with contaminated water flowing from side way drainages and
transportation would be badly hit. The bottleneck situation affects
the free move of the whole community. Decades long waiting for
remedial measures to tackle the rain related obstacles is still
remain unchecked.
Environmental
activists and city dwellers have raised the issues many times and
there are pending proposals for a clean city that to be implemented
to save the city from various shortcomings.
There are Wi-Fi
bus stops at Mananchira surrounds, quite contrary to the prevailing
situations there.
The frontage of
the Wi-Fi bus stop nearby Government Training College and the bus
waiting spot, in front of the Income Tax Office is pathetic because
these locations surrounded with rain water for many days along with
other crowded areas of the city. Passengers face trouble for getting
in and getting down buses from these places due to filthy water
spread around half portion of the road. Similar situation exists
nearby Sports Council District Office and in front of the BSNL
Office at Mananchira.
(To be
continued)