The Hindu               23.09.2013 

Corporation to install debris management plant

Coimbatore Corporation is considering a proposal put
forward by a consultant to install a debris management plant at Rs. 12
crore. According to sources in the civic body, the consultant has
suggested that it construct the plant with a capacity to process debris
up to 250 tonnes.

The Coimbatore Corporation at
present collects anywhere between 100 — 200 tonnes of debris a day. The
exact amount of debris collected in a day is not known as no scientific
estimation has been made.

The sources say that the
Corporation will provide land for the contractor who it will engage to
install the plant. It will be on the build, own, operate and transfer
model.

While the contractor operates the plant, the Corporation will have to collect and transport the debris to the plant.

The
sources say that the Corporation is also planning to privatise the
transport operations in such a way that the contractor operating the
plant will pay the transport contractor based on the quantity of debris.
And while doing so, the civic body also plans to have five debris
collection points — one each a zone.

At the plant,
the debris will be cleaned — plastics, wood and polythene will be
removed, segregated into bricks, brick-rich blocks and concrete and then
sent for either dry process or wet process, where it will be broken
down into pieces of varying sizes.

The broken down
pieces will then be process and manufactured into kerb stones, hollow
blocks, cement blocks, pavement blocks, etc. Or, it will be sold as
such. The sources say that from the date of grant of order for erecting
the plant, the contractor will take eight months. The Corporation will
have to provide land — around 10 acres and infrastructure like roads,
nominate a nodal officer for smooth operation of the project, provide
water supply and ensure collection and transportation of waste and
render assistance in selling the end product.

The cost works out to around Rs. 526 a tonne.

The
sources say that the Corporation has passed a resolution in this
regard, has also proposed to hike the debris charges while granting
building plan approval, is in the process of creating awareness among
residents, has held talks with builders and property promoters and done
much more.

Once the State Government gives approval,
the Corporation will go ahead with the work in full swing. And as and
when the plant comes into operation, the city’s residents will not see
debris on tank bunds and alongside roads.