The Times of India 07.11.2013
Civic body calls for privatization of compost plant
NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation ( NMC) is preparing an expression of interest for private agencies to manage its compost plant at Vilholi. The plant has been under the scanner for its idle machinery, for which, a probe was also initiated.
In October, the standing committee decided to dump the probe report and privatize the compost plant. Standing committee chairman Ramesh Dhongade had said the machinery costing crores of rupees was lying idle due to lack of manpower and negligence of the civic administration, which is why, the compost plant should be privatised. He said the decision would be taken after discussing it with the mayor and the group leaders.
"We have a better facility as compared to the other cities for waste management that is functioning at a satisfactory level. Obviously, there is room for improvement. We are now looking at reducing the cost of management and increasing the facilities, to make refuse-derived fuel (RDF) available and to see if the already existing dump can be processed and if we can get some power from it," said municipal commissioner Sanjay Khandare to TOI. He said that all the machines have been repaired. "Some of the machinery like those used to make RDF could not be used due to lack of manpower. The other machinery has been repaired though," he said.
The list of machinery lying idle given by Dhongade included four dumpers (two operational and two defunct), 12 tractors (all lying idle due to lack of drivers), eight poclain machines (four operational and four defunct), two bulldozers (one operational and the other defunct), two bobcat utility vehicles (both defunct), four earth movers (one operational and three defunct), five mini trucks (all operational), two tempos (both defunct), one road roller (operational) and three generators (all operational), all costing around Rs 80-90 crore. He said the privatisation of the plant was necessary.
About reviving the NMC's initial experiment of making bricks after processing the compost, Khandare said the plan would have to be revived with the help of experts.
"I am now preparing a document which will be an expression of interest calling parties for managing the compost plant. This will first be presented before the general body for approval. Tenders will be floated after that," said Khandare.
According to sources, the probe report says that the machinery was lying idle because of inadequate manpower. The administration said there were only 69 staff members, including drivers and operators at the compost plant, while there was a requirement of 85 more operators and drivers. The panel that conducted the probe had advised the civic administration to recruit the needed manpower, but a decision to this effect is yet to be taken.
When Dhongade, CIDCO division chairman Arvin Shelve and other MNS corporators paid a sudden visit to the compost plant in June, they had found vehicles and machinery lying idle. Dhongade pointed out that a new earthmover, which was operational only for a month, was neither returned to the company, nor repaired, though it came with a one year warranty; two new trucks, which ran just 20 km and 465 km respectively, were also defunct.
