KOCHI: The waste treatment filter plant at the diesel loco shed in the South railway station here has been lying in a dilapidated condition for the past one year.The filter plant, which has a chimney with a height of more than 20 ft, is one of the few-of-its-kind under the Thiruvananthapuram Division.The plant was set up by the Railways to dispose of the waste generated from the engines of the diesel trains that are being brought for maintenance at the diesel loco shed.The treatment plant is vital to the loco shed as all the diesel engines in the state are being brought here for maintenance. According to sources, the Rs 50-lakh project was tested only on the day the plant was installed almost a year ago. The plant was aimed at protecting the local people and the loco shed employees from the problems of pollution and health arising out of the functioning of the loco shed.“The Railways set up the plant after the employees launched an agitation demanding the setting up of a plant to properly treat the waste being generated at the Loco Shed. The first waste treatment plantwas later replaced with a new one. After a few years, the authorities removed it stating that it had become outdated and that it was the need of the hour to install a modern filter. Now, the new one has been left to rust,” said the sources.The employees are now forced to burn again the metal and other waste which are becoming unhealthy for the residents. The plant was meant to dispose of the lube oil filters of the diesel engines, scrap metals and other items that become waste at the loco shed. A top railway official said on condition of anonymity that they were awaiting the approval of tenders from the Pollution Control Board to revive the plant.
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