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Solid Waste Management

Corporation to focus on e-waste

Wednesday, 02 December 2009 02:14 administrator
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The hindu 02.12.2009

Corporation to focus on e-waste

 

Staff Reporter

Kochi has moved to the status of bin-less city: Mayor

KOCHI: Management of e-waste would be the priority area of the civic administration as Kochi has achieved considerable progress in municipal solid waste management, said Mercy Williams, Kochi Mayor.

The continuous efforts of the civic administration to usher in a culture of cleanliness in the city have been widely appreciated and the best city award was conferred on the city in recognition of its efforts in this direction, addressing a press conference, Ms. Williams said.

She dedicated the award, instituted by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, to the “people of the city who made the cleanliness initiative a success.”

Ahmadabad has also been selected along with Kochi for the award, which will be presented by Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Urban Affairs, at a function to be held in New Delhi on December 3, she said.

The State unit of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India cooperated with the initiatives of the Kochi Corporation by installing bio-bins at 210 flats built by its members. The confederation has processed 25 tonnes of biodegradable waste, generated by the 25,000 households in its flats and villas, on its own, Ms. Williams said.

Various residents’ associations have also cooperated with the civic administration in making the drive a success. Kochi has moved to the status of bin-less city in managing the municipal waste, she said.

Deputy Mayor C.K. Manisankar said that the civic administration could successfully address the vexing issues of waterlogging and waste management.

Kabeer B. Harun, project director of the confederation, said that the first attempt to manage the plastic waste in Private Public Participation mode was tried in Kochi. The confederation and the Kochi Corporation were jointly implementing a project for using the plastic waste for tarring roads, he said.

N.A. Mani, E.M. Sunilkumar, K.V. Manoj and N. Anilkumar, Corporation Standing committee chairmen, and Dr. C.G. Elizabeth, Health Officer, were also present at the press conference.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 December 2009 02:15
 

CMC to try waste segregation at source

Tuesday, 01 December 2009 07:13 administrator
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The Hindu 01.12.2009

CMC to try waste segregation at source

Staff Correspondent

Udupi: Herga Dinakar Shetty, president of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), said on Monday that the council would initiate a project of waste segregation at source in 150 houses here on an experimental basis.

Mr. Shetty told presspersons that under this project two buckets would be provided free to each house. Wet waste would be dumped in one, which would be cleared daily by self-help groups (SHGs). Dry waste would be put in the second bucket, which would be cleared once a week. Waste segregation at source would help in producing manure and recycling waste. More roads in the city would be widened. The Badagupete and Tenkapete roads leading to the Sri Krishna Math/Temple would be widened by 20 feet. Badagupete Road would be widened from Kalsank to Rajangana Cross, while Tenkapete Road would be widened from Ideal Circle to Hotel Woodlands Cross. Kanakadasa Road would also be widened. It had been decided to spend Rs. 16 crore on land acquisition and Rs. 5 crore on widening the roads, he said.

It was decided to spend Rs. 6 crore on asphalting roads, Rs. 62 lakh on concreting roads and Rs. 63 lakh on constructing concrete drains. The thoroughfares in the city would be repaired at the earliest as the Paryaya festival was fast approaching, the CMC president said. At present, drinking water was being supplied for eight to 12 hours a day in different parts of the city under the Swarna River Second Stage Drinking Water Project. This would be gradually increased to 24 hours. The number of public taps would be reduced to check wastage, Mr. Shetty said. The Town Hall would be renovated at a cost of Rs. 2 crore, and Bhujanga Park would be developed at a cost of Rs. 1 crore. An overhead tank would be constructed at Manipal at a cost of Rs. 1 crore. A playground would be constructed at Beedinagudde at a cost of Rs. 3 crore, he said.

CMC vice-president Indira Shekhar and Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak were present.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 December 2009 07:15
 

An apology of a treatment plant

Monday, 30 November 2009 09:53 administrator
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The New Indian Express 30.11.2009

An apology of a treatment plant

Shibu B S

The cracked floor of the plant
KOCHI: It was the Kochi Corporation’s answer to the city’s garbage woes. The Brahmapuram Solid Waste Treatment Plant was set up after a lot of protests from the locals. But the Corporation promised that waste will not be dumped there without treating and hence won’t be hazardous. Now what the locals feared has turned into a nightmare.

It takes a lot of courage to step into the plant because of the excruciating stink and filth surrounding the plant.

To be precise, the treatment plant has turned into a stinking dump shed. The floor has already started developing cracks and there is no sign of any waste treatment.

Non-processing of waste materials at the plant leads to serious health issues as well. The plant was designed to segregate, treat and recycle waste. “But what happens at Brahmapuram is only the dumping of waste,” said Abdul Basheer, ward member, Vadavokode- Puthenkurissu.

Apart from cracked floors some of the machines have developed technical snags.

The expert committee which visited the plant had recommended complete dismantling and reconstruction of the structure. According to the report submitted by experts from the National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode, floors of almost all buildings of the plant, including vermi-culture section, product godown, compost processing shed, treatment platform, tipping platform and re-sorting area, have developed cracks.

“The plant is yet to be operated in its full capacity and a large quantity of waste remains piled up thereby creating serious health hazards to the people residing in the nearby area,” Basheer added.

It is literally a hell to live within its 5-km radius because of the foul smell.

Making things worse are the flies and mosquitoes thriving on the piled up waste. “The residents of Irumbanam and Rajagiri Engineering College areas have to bear the brunt of the Corporation’s callousness,” he added.

Basheer who is also the chairman of the Brahmapauram Action Council alleged that even though they had alerted the Corporation authorities about the pathetic condition of the plant so far no action has been taken. With the State Government giving its nod for fund allotment for the expansion of the plant, Basheer said that the Action Council would soon launch protest measures if the civic body fails to act.

Last Updated on Monday, 30 November 2009 09:56
 
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