The New Indian Express 01.06.2013
In order to make waste collection from hotels across the city more
systematic, the Kochi Corporation is all set to introduce a scheme. As
per the scheme, the Corporation will directly collect the waste from
hotels and restaurants for a fixed rate.
The civic body plans to
introduce 10 state of the art vehicles for the purpose and the scheme is
likely to be launched by August 15.
“The majority of hotels lack
proper waste management facilities. Hence we have decided to introduce a
scheme under which hotels and restaurants will have to pay a fixed
amount every month to the Corporation for removal of waster. The workers
from the Corporation will collect the waste directly from hotels on a
daily basis with the help of new and advanced vehicles,” said Kochi
Corporation Health Standing Committee chairman T K Ashraf.
He said
the state of the art vehicles to be introduced for the service will
load and unload the waste automatically. “We have already invited
tenders for purchasing the vehicles.
The tender will be awarded
soon. Each vehicle is expected to cost between `35 lakh and `40 lakh. We
are planning to purchase the vehicles by utilising the funds under
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM),” Ashraf said.
He
said the rates for the service will be finalised after holding
discussions with the Mayor and at Health Standing Committee meeting.
“The
proposal will be submitted at the next Corporation Council meeting and
once the Council give its approval, we hope to launch the project on
August 15,” he said.
He said he was positive that Hotels and Restaurants Association would welcome the move.
Ashraf
said the Corporation would intensify the inspections at eateries during
monsoon. “In the raids conducted recently, we had seized stale and
rotten food from some of the hotels and restaurants. Hence we will carry
out similar raids during monsoon to contain health problems likely to
ensue due to the wet climate,” he said.
Regarding the delay in
introducing grading system for hotels in the city, Ashraf said the
proposal was still under consideration and that they plan to launch it
by 2013-end.
grade A, B or C depending on the quality of food served, hygiene and
customer service.