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Solid Waste Management

Compromise reached on Vadavathoor issue, claims Municipal Chairman

Thursday, 27 June 2013 05:11 administrator
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The Hindu               27.06.2013

Compromise reached on Vadavathoor issue, claims Municipal Chairman

Braving the rain, agitators of the Vijayapuram grama panchayat continue their indefinite strike against the Vadavathoor dumping yard on Wednesday.— Photo: By Special Arrangement  
Braving the rain, agitators of the Vijayapuram grama panchayat continue their indefinite strike against the Vadavathoor dumping yard on Wednesday.— Photo: By Special Arrangement  

Despite the indefinite agitation over the Vadavathoor dumping yard entering its tenth day, the Kottayam Municipality is hopeful of overcoming the deadlock in the issue. Municipal chairman M.P. Santhosh Kumar informed a council meeting on Wednesday that the facility is likely to be reopened on Thursday. However, the leaders of Vijayapuram grama panchayat remained firm on their stand and said they would oppose the move to reopen the yard.

According to Mr. Kumar, a compromise was reached at the meeting that was convened by the District Collector and participated by the leaders of the municipality and Vijayapuram grama panchayat. December 31, 2014 had been set as the deadline for permanently resolving the problem of waste management in Kottayam, he said.

Discussions held

Mr. Kumar added that he had held discussions with the representatives of Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association, residents’ associations, traders and owners of commercial establishments and had gained their support for the waste management efforts of the municipality. The civic body has provided three months for establishing source-level waste disposal units in all commercial outlets.

As part of the waste management efforts, the council gave approval to a Rs. 8.72-crore project planned to provide disposal units for residences, shops and other buildings. The project has been proposed to be conducted with the support of the State government and the Suchitwa Mission. The Regional Agro Industrial Development Cooperative (Raidco) has been entrusted with the responsibility of constructing waste disposal units for nearly 3200 households. As per of the proposal, 2000 biogas plants, 429 pipe composts, 593 ring composts and 170 vermi-composts will be provided.

The council also decided to terminate the agreements with two other establishments for constructing the disposal units. The councillors belonging to the opposition front criticised the municipal authorities of their alleged apathetic attitude in taking the initiative to resolve the present crisis. According to them, the existing problem could have been prevented by timely implementation of effective measures.

Denies report

Reacting to the developments, Vijayapuram grama panchayat president Baiju Cherukottayil said that there had been no decision on reopening the yard. According to him, such a move would go against the assurance put forth by Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. It would also be countered by the agitators, he said.

Meanwhile, the health authorities have cautioned that the delay in ensuring regular waste collection and disposal in the town could lead to an outbreak of various diseases. This problem was highlighted in a study report that was submitted to District Collector Ajith Kumar by District Medical Officer N.M. Ayshabhai. The unchecked accumulation of garbage at about 15 designated dumping points could pave way for the spread of diseases such as leptospirosis, dengue and jaundice in the wake of the incessant rains, the report said.

 

NDMC struggles to raise awareness about e-waste

Monday, 24 June 2013 10:23 administrator
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The Indian Express              24.06.2013  

NDMC struggles to raise awareness about e-waste

New Delhi Municipal Council's ambitious electronic waste collection project is facing problems as residents of the VIP zone have turned a deaf ear to the pleas of agency to dispose of e-waste in bins marked for it.

According to a senior official at the council, the agency wrote to residents' welfare associations (RWAs) many a time asking them to dispose of electronic waste properly. The council has also taken on board a private company, who sends workers door-to-door to collect e-waste. However, the agency did not get the desired response from the RWAs.

"We have been writing to RWAs to dispose of e-waste with the company that has been given task to collect it. We even offered to put e-waste bins in the localities, but our requests did not get any response from RWAs. We are getting e-waste only from NDMC hospitals. We collected about seven tonnes of e-waste till August 2012," the official said.

The official said there has been a collection of 30 tonnes of e-waste from NDMC schools, hospitals and offices. "People must understand that e-waste produces toxic materials that could lead to cancer, affect nervous system and lead to infertility. Dumping it accurately will help us keep the environment safe," the official said.

Following the guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi government, the New Delhi Municipal Council started collecting electronic waste in 2010.

Started on experiment basis, the council initially collected e-waste like computers, mouse, mobile phones, glass and other metal products from its schools and offices. "We are yet to move into residential areas. Although, we have chalked out a plan to reach RWAs," another senior official said.

The council also plans to place these e-bins in community centres.

 

BBMP recycles waste management plan

Thursday, 20 June 2013 10:44 administrator
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Deccan Chronicle              20.06.2013

BBMP recycles waste management plan

The picture for representational purpose only.

Bengaluru: The new BBMP commissioner M. Lakshminarayan has made segregation of waste at source compulsory in 31 wards from July 1, reinforcing the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules of October 2012.
 
Speaking at an interaction with lawyers on cleanliness in Bengaluru at the High Court, Lakshminarayan claimed that Dry Waste Collection Centres have been established across all 198 wards, and the zero garbage initiative will be launched from July 1 by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
 
The pourakarmikas will collect only segregated waste so citizens will have to separate their dry and wet waste. The BBMP will make arrangements to collect the dry waste during the week.
 
Lingarajapura, Shantalanagara, Halasuru, Benniganahalli, Gangenahalli, JC Nagara, Nagapura, Shivanagara, Chamarajapete, Koramangala are among the wards where the initiative will be launched.
 
Segregation of waste at source will reduce the quantum of waste generated by the city by 20 to 25 per cent. The city employs 20,000 pourakarmikas in two shifts,  Lakshminarayan said. Garbage is being thrown on the streets and footpaths by traders after the pourakarmikas clear it, he noted, and appealed to residents’ welfare associations and the BBMP to keep the city neat and tidy.
 
The lawyers present requested that the premise of the court be kept clean. The commissioner said dustbins will be provided and so will cement benches at specified locations.
 
Earlier, Justice K. Sridhar Rao said that the heavy traffic in the city demands more under passes and flyovers. The city must also tackle dengue and malaria more effectively. The judge called on the BBMP chief to provide adequate public toilets and ensure maintenance of storm water drains.
 
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