The Hindu                25.04.2013

Delayed GVMC’s new SWM plan to be restricted

The much-publicised decentralised solid waste management
sought to be introduced by GVMC will take more time to be in place.
Besides, instead of implementing it all over the city it will be
restricted to selected 52 wards.

The new SWM was
first proposed to be implemented in the first week of March. Later it
was postponed to mid-April and an elaborate plan worked out for training
and awareness campaign.

However, a final decision on
the GVMC general body resolution handing over integrated solid waste
management to Ramky Enviro Engineers is still awaited.

The
GVMC had first thought of purchasing push-carts for collection of
garbage from door-to-door with its funds. However, with the government
still not deciding on handing over ISWM to Ramky, in spite of having
called for tenders it has second thoughts on whether to go ahead with
the plan or it as the infrastructure had to be handed over to the
agency. Another key issue is the reported unwillingness of the company
to absorb all the sanitation workers GVMC has now. Having considered the
implications, it has been decided to seek the support of corporates
under corporate social responsibility (CSR). Having reduced the number
of wards for implementation, the cost has also been brought down from
Rs.4 crore to Rs.2 crore. HUDCO and Visakhapatnam Port Trust have come
forward to contribute for taking up the SWM besides three or four other
corporates, it is reliably learnt.

Tenders have been finalised and work orders issued for buying push-carts, say sources.

When contacted, Municipal Commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana told
The Hindu
that due to the various constraints involved there had been a delay in
launching the SWM. “The plan will be implemented. Everything will be in
place in next three to four weeks and in a month we hope to launch the
plan,” he adds.