Protest against poultry waste rendering plant intensifies

The public protest against Fresh Cut Organic Products Pvt Ltd in Kattippara panchayat, the only poultry waste rendering plant in the district, intensified on Sunday (September 7) as residents launched a day-and-night protest on the plant premises and blocked vehicles carrying poultry waste. A meeting convened by District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh on Monday (September 8) to resolve the issue ended without a solution.

The plant, which began operations in 2014 and is located in Kattippara panchayat, has been facing opposition from residents of neighbouring Thamarassery, Kodencheri and Omasseri panchayats for the past five years over pollution concerns. While the foul smell from the plant has made life difficult for over 4,000 families in the region, the alleged contamination of the Iruthulli river has affected even more people. The Iruthulli River Protection Public Committee, which has been leading the agitation, alleges that the plant has been operating at nearly ten times its permitted capacity, resulting in the stench.

“The plant caters to all the panchayats and municipalities in Kozhikode district besides Kozhikode Corporation. Its capacity is 20 tonnes, but it is processing nearly 200 tonnes of poultry waste every day,” said Babu Kodukkil, Chairman of the Committee.

The plant was shut down for a month in May 2025 following protests, with assurances that corrective measures would be taken before reopening. However, the Committee alleges that the management made no changes and that the foul smell persists.

While the Kattippara panchayat refused to renew the plant’s trade licence, it continued functioning with clearance from the District Level Facilitation and Monitoring Committee (DLFMC) for waste management.

“We could not renew the licence of a venture that is causing so much difficulty to the local people,” said Premji James, president of Kattippara panchayat.

Efforts by entrepreneurs to set up similar plants elsewhere in the district have failed due to public opposition. One of the major demands of the protest committee is to establish more plants across the district to lift the weight off Fresh Cut. They also insist that the company limit its processing to the permitted 20 tonnes. “We do not want the plant shut down, but it should not be located on the banks of the river,” said Mr. Babu.