Thiruvananthapuram, March 7 (NationPress) A heated political debate has arisen concerning waste management following the Attukal Pongala festival. Education Minister V. Sivankutty stated on Saturday that the state government will intervene wherever necessary, amidst growing criticism faced by the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation regarding the sluggish pace of post-festival cleaning.

The renowned Pongala festival, associated with the Attukal Temple in the state capital, occurred on Tuesday, attracting approximately four million women from both within and outside the state.

During the festival, the central ritual involves women preparing dishes while seated along the roads within a 10 sq km radius of the temple.

Notably, this controversy marks the first instance in the history of the state capital where the BJP governs the Corporation, having displaced the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front, which had been in power for over four decades.

In response to the unfolding situation, Sivankutty remarked that the government holds authority over the Corporation and is responsible for intervening in matters that impact the public.

His comments came in the wake of sharp criticism from Mayor V. V. Rajesh, a prominent BJP figure, who previously suggested that the Minister should focus solely on his department.

This exchange has intensified the conflict between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bharatiya Janata Party concerning the management of waste produced during the festival, which consistently attracts millions of women devotees to the city every year.

Sivankutty indicated that he has instructed officials to look into complaints regarding uncollected garbage in various areas days after the festival.

"I have received numerous calls from residents expressing their concerns and have also seen reports in the media. The government must ensure that necessary actions are taken. There is no need for discord over this issue," he stated.

He added that the government is aware of the situations warranting its intervention and would respond appropriately.

Moreover, the Minister noted that there should also be an investigation into whether there was any intentional effort to shift blame onto the government.

The issue has also prompted grassroots protests.

Activists from the Democratic Youth Federation of India organized a march to the Attukal councilor's office, demanding the immediate removal of waste from various parts of the city.

The youth organization cautioned that if garbage is not cleared from the internal roads and areas surrounding the temple, its members would take it upon themselves to conduct the cleaning.

However, the Corporation has dismissed the criticism, accusing the CPI(M) of attempting to politicize the issue while asserting that the cleaning operations are being executed in phases.

This ongoing dialogue has transformed the post-Pongala sanitation initiative into a significant political flashpoint within the capital.