Source : The Hindu Date : 12.06.2009
Major waste management scheme on the anvil
D. Radhakrishnan
| Project expected to be completed by the end of 2010 |
Photo: M. Sathyamoorthy 
Focus on safe disposal: A truck carrying garbage entering the municipal dump yard at Theetukkal near Udhagamandalam. —
Udhagamandalam: With the civic administration according high priority to garbage management, waste-related problems are expected to come down steadily over the coming months, according to the Municipal Chairman R. Rajendran.
Speaking to ‘The Hindu’ here on Thursday, he said that the municipality was in the process of providing both short and long term solutions.
Stating that a major plan of action with private sector participation was in the process of being put in place, he said that the comprehensive solid waste management scheme was expected to be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 25 crore.
Pointing out that a detailed project report would be submitted by a Noida-based consultancy firm to the government soon, Mr. Rajendran said that it would include the construction of a compost yard and a plastic re-cycling unit at the dump yard of the municipality in Theetukkal near here.
Work on the project, which will be taken up on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis was expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
The process of transferring ownership of the dump yard extending over about 15 acres from the Forest Department to the municipality was nearly over.
In order to prevent dumping of garbage on the main Ooty-Theetukkal-Parsons Valley Road, the municipality had recently laid roads inside the dump yard to facilitate movement of garbage trucks. Gradually facilities would be improved. Stating that the dump yard will be maintained properly, he expressed the confidence that the people residing nearby will not be subjected to inconvenience.