The Hindu 19.02.2010
GVMC to firm up plans for solid waste management
Staff Reporter
| Finalisation acquires urgency in view of 2012 deadline for reforms |
National Technical Committee on Solid Waste Management meet convened in New Delhi
GVMC has been way ahead of other civic bodies in primary stage, says Vishnu
VISAKHAPATNAM: The municipal authorities will firm up plans for solid waste management (SWM) in the city and put them before the general body of the corporation. The finalisation of the plans acquired urgency in view of the 2012 deadline to carry out reforms in the solid waste management under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Municipal Commissioner V.N. Vishnu is a member of a committee formed for framing guidelines for SWM at a meeting of National Technical Committee on Solid Waste Management convened in New Delhi on February 16. Based on responses to a questionnaire further policy decision would be taken that will hold good for all the 63 mission cities.
Reforms in the solid waste management have become imperative in view of the Supreme Court guidelines on the issue in 2003. Implementation of the reforms conforming to the Supreme Court guidelines is mandatory by 2012.
There are three stages in the SWM. The primary stage is collecting the waste from house-to-house. The GVMC has been way ahead of the other civic bodies in this, says Mr. Vishnu.
The sanitary landfill has to be located outside the city limits. “For this we have sought 100 acres of site at Krishnapuram in Anandapuram mandal and Talaruvada in Padmanabham mandal from the District Collector,” said Mr. Vishnu. The garbage volumes should be viable for recycling. For instance, Vadodara, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad have gone in for regional landfills.
“We will prepare power point presentation on dry and wet solid waste management and put them before the corporators. After that it will be introduced in the council for approval,” Mr. Vishnu said.
The making of compost from garbage proposed to be given to a private fertiliser company fell through as it was embroiled in controversy after allegations by Deputy Mayor K. Dorabbai. The proposal to allow dry garbage collection from house to house by ITC was also put on hold.
DPR on houses
Mr. Vishnu who attended the meeting on Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) on February 16 said the GVMC would send detailed project report (DPR) for 20,000 houses within 20 days under the new housing scheme Rajiv Awas Yojana that will be implemented from the next financial year. He said the city had the advantage of a head-start as it completed survey for 1.54 houses under INDIRAMMA (Urban) scheme. The database required is ready enabling the corporation to go ahead without any delay.
The Commissioner said for seven projects under BSUP Rs.416.07 crores has been sanctioned. For Rs.226.96 crores utilisation certificates have been sent and the fourth instalment of Rs.36 crores is ready for release.
