Kochi Corporation rejects land sale for waste-to-energy facility

The Kochi Corporation has made clear it will not sell land for the proposed waste-to-energy facility at Brahmapuram, instead proposing a leasing arrangement that would allow the corporation to maintain ownership of the strategically important site. The clarification came after the civic body faced mounting pressure from elected representatives seeking greater oversight of the project's implementation and long-term implications for the district's waste management infrastructure.

Local councillors have emerged as vocal opponents of the facility's regional scope, with several demanding that the plant process only waste generated within Kochi district rather than serving a wider catchment area. The position reflects concerns about concentrating waste management operations and potential environmental impacts on the locality. The council has also sought detailed information regarding the proposed lease duration, financial viability gap funding mechanisms, and the corporation's potential liabilities under various operational scenarios.

The corporation's insistence on retaining ownership while leasing the land represents a middle ground in negotiations over the facility's development and governance structure. However, unresolved questions about the project's financial framework and operational boundaries continue to complicate progress, with councillors pressing for clarity before the corporation commits to any formal arrangement with project developers or operators.