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.
