Published Aug 14, 2025 | 8:48 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 14, 2025 | 8:48 AM
Sewage Treatment Plant/supplied
Local Self-Government and Excise Minister MB Rajesh on Wednesday, 13 August, announced a five percent property tax exemption for households that treat organic waste at home.
He was speaking after inaugurating Kerala’s first sanitary waste-to-energy plant at the Sivagiri SN College Auditorium in Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram.
The minister said the government aims to set up facilities to treat all sanitary pads produced daily in the state within the tenure of the current ministry, addressing a major solid waste challenge.
Highlighting Varkala’s improvement in the Centre’s cleanliness ranking—from 1,370th to 158th position—he credited such initiatives for the progress.
The new plant, established on 10 cents of municipal land at a cost of ₹1.5 crore, can process five tonnes of sanitary and other non-recyclable domestic biomedical waste daily, generating 60 kW of electricity. Waste types include diapers, sanitary pads, non-recyclable textiles, and hair.
The project was implemented by Varkala Municipality with the State Pollution Control Board’s approval, adjacent to the Varkala Kanvasramam waste treatment plant.
The inauguration was presided over by MLA V Joy and attended by LSGD Special Secretary TV Anupama, Clean City Manager Prakash, and other officials.
