The Hindu 17.11.2009

Deadlock continues over location of garbage dumping site

Staff Reporter

PUDUCHERRY: Deadlock continues over the identification of a proper garbage dumping site as negotiations with the local people of Sedarapet failed.

“The government has suggested that garbage be dumped on a temporary basis in vacant lands in the Sedarapet-Karasur area, until the modern garbage disposal facility proposed at Kurumbapet is completed. The local people had earlier raised objections to this,” said Franklin Laltinkhuma, sub-collector, Villianur. “Police officials, municipality officials and officials from the Local Administration Department had convened a meeting with the locals on Monday in order to convince them, but negotiations failed,” he said.

The problem of the lack of a proper garbage disposal site came to the limelight when the people of Karuvadikuppam in Oulgaret Municipality protested against the heaps of garbage that had piled up in the area. Following the agitations, garbage continued to accumulate in garbage collecting trucks and tractors, as municipality officials struggled to find a proper location to dump the garbage.

The government has already identified a 22-acre site in Kurumbapet under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Project, for the development of a modern garbage disposal facility. A sum of Rs. 49.66 crore has been sanctioned by the Union Government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), for the development of the facility. This money will be utilised for the purchase of vehicles to collect and dispose the garbage. The garbage dump will be equipped with modern facilities, to reprocess organic and inorganic wastes.

Indian Express 14.11.2009

Jal Nigam shortlists 3 firms to manage ‘waste’

The Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam has selected three firms to set up Solid Waste Management (SWM) systems in seven towns of the state. In each of these towns, a single firm will handle the entire management of solid waste — from door-to-door collection to formation of bio-fertiliser and disposal at landfill sites.

Jal Nigam has selected firm A2Z for setting up solid waste management systems in Moradabad, Varanasi, Aligarh and Meerut; Subhash Projects and Marketing Limited (SPML) for Mathura and Allahabad; and M/s Jyoti Build Tech for Lucknow. Sources said that these firms have submitted their letters of acceptance too. “These firms have been directed to start the setting up of solid waste management systems in the respective towns from December 1,” said P K Bhukesh, director, Construction and Design Services, Jal Nigam.

The timeline set for the completion of the projects is eight months. Collection as well as disposal of waste will start after that. Municipal Corporations of these towns have been directed to sign agreements with the respective firms before November 30.

SWM is a project under the Centre’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Along with these seven towns, the Centre had approved similar projects for Gorakhpur and Jhansi. The Jal Nigam, however, is yet to finalise any firm for these two cities.

At present, over 1,200 MT of solid waste is generated in Lucknow, 600 MT each in Varanasi, Meerut and Allahabad; 280 MT each in Moradabad and Gorakhpur, 220 MT in Aligarh, 200 MT in Jhansi and 180 MT in Mathura.

As part of the waste management project, 80 per cent of municipal solid waste will be utilised and only 20 per cent be disposed of at the landfill sites. The firm will charge fees from residents for collection of domestic solid waste.

Sources said that while land is yet to be acquired for the projects in Lucknow and Meerut, the acres provided in Varanasi and Allahabad are insufficient. “District Magistrates of these towns have been sent reminders to ensure availability of land at the earliest,” Bhukesh said.

The plan prescribes that the Centre, local body and state government share the project cost in Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi and Allahabad in the ratio 50:30:20. For Aligarh, Moradabad, Jhansi and Gorakhpur, the ratio of cost sharing will be 80:10:10.