Source : The Hindu Date : 08.06.2009
Seven firms submit EOI for running waste plant
Staff Reporter
| Panel to meet on June 12 to hear reports |
Process of selecting firm to be over by month-end
Notice to APTDC to end operations by July 18
KOCHI: Seven firms have expressed their interest in running the solid waste treatment plant of the Kochi Corporation at Brahmapuram. These firms have submitted their Expression of Interest (EOI) in response to an advertisement released by the civic body.
The civic authorities have directed the firms to make detailed presentations on their capabilities for running the plant. The firms have been directed to make the presentation before an expert panel and the Steering Committee of the Kochi Corporation on June 12.
The expert committee consists of representatives of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Clean Kerala Mission, Health Officers of the Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram Corporations, Environmental Science Division of the Cochin University of Science and Technology and Paramedical wing of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
The firms will also be asked to submit their financial and technical bids. The process of selecting the firm will be completed by the month-end, officials of the Corporation said.
The civic authorities have fixed elaborate guidelines and qualification benchmarks for the firms to be considered for running the plant, officials said.
The selection of the firm for running the plant has become necessary, as the Kochi Corporation has issued notice to the Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Corporation (APTDC), which installed and managed the plant for one year, to end its service by July 18. The Corporation has also directed the APTDC to complete the documentation process of the plant and handover the relevant documents to it as part of the final settlement of the bills.
The civic body has also selected a firm for running the plant for the period between the APTDC relinquishing the responsibility and the new agency taking over the management of the plant.
The firm has quoted Rs. 19,500 for a day for running the plant on the condition that the Corporation can take the manure produced at the site. The offer seemed to be an attractive one for the civic authorities as FACT has come forward to buy the manure. The FACT is understood to have agreed to purchase the manure at the rate of Rs. 2 per kg and the Corporation is in a position to sell at least 25,000 kg manure each day. The Corporation will be able to generate at least Rs. 50,000 a day from the sale of the manure and the amount would be sufficient for running the plant, officials said.
