The Hindu 28.02.2011
Corporation to implement ‘zero waste' programme
Rs.42 lakh allotted by Tourism Department to be used for project
The vexed issue of solid waste management has found a place in the scheme of things of the Kochi Corporation.
The annual budget, which was presented in the corporation council on Saturday, has envisioned a ‘zero waste' programme besides listing various measures to address the issue.
It is in the West Kochi area that the civic body is planning to introduce the ‘zero waste' programme considering the fact that it is the tourist zone of the city.
According to the budget proposal, segregated collection and processing of waste will be implemented at the regional level in the first 27 divisions of the corporation with the support of the State Tourism Department. The project will be implemented through Kudumbasree units and a sum of Rs.42 lakh allotted by the Tourism Department will be utilised for it, the budget proposal said.
Waste from hotels
The corporation has also placed an offer for processing the waste generated at the hotels and trade units in the city. If the hoteliers and the trade units come forward for collecting and processing the waste generated by them, the Kochi Corporation will provide the infrastructure facilities for the same, the budget has offered.
The Corporation has also promised to set up a toilet waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram where its municipal solid waste treatment plant is functioning.
The Kochi Corporation has taken a critical view of the functioning of the Brahmapuram plant.
The plant has been functioning only partially though the previous council had handed over its management to an agency.
The corporation has initiated steps for clearing the huge volumes of waste that has been accumulated at the plant site and selling the plastic waste collected, the budget proposal said.
A regional solid waste treatment plant will be set up on the plant premises for treating the waste collected from the neighbouring local bodies, the budget document said.
The solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram was cleared by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for the Kochi urban agglomeration which included the Kochi corporation, adjoining five municipalities, and 10 panchayats.
The installed capacity of the Brahmapuram plant was 250 tonnes a day. However, around 600 tonnes of garbage was generated by the civic bodies in the agglomerate, it was pointed out.
The budget proposed to identify consultants for the preparation of a detailed project report for the regional plant.
