India Newspapers

450 tonnes of mixed waste gets processed in this plant every day

Monday, 10 November 2014 06:51 administrator

The Hindu 10.11.2014

450 tonnes of mixed waste gets processed in this plant every day

Waste is segregated using machines; wet waste composted

Workers in hats and boots stand beside a big machine, while a few stand in a corner sipping hot tea. Hard to believe that they are working inside a shed where 450 tonnes of garbage from the city is being segregated by a machine ahead of it being processing.

For the past 20 days, each day 450 tonnes of garbage has been sent to the waste processing plant at Chigaranahalli in Doddaballapur taluk. MSGP Infratech Pvt. Ltd. established the plant on 15 acres of land.

With deadline to stop sending garbage from the city to Mandur landfill round the corner, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is banking on this unit to take some load and set an example for other such units to emulate. By November-end, this unit will be able to process around 500 tonnes of waste every day, officials said.

According to project manager Pushkar, for the first time, composting is being done in a closed shed. Waste is segregated using machines and wet waste is then composted. The leachate is used to hasten the composting process. “Waste is composted on a concrete floor, so there is no leachate contamination. The waste that is not composted is first segregated manually. Plastic, glass and metals are recycled, while the remaining waste is converted into Retrieved Derived Fuel (RDF) that is sold to factories,” he said.

Mohan Lal, BBMP’s Assistant Executive Engineer, told The Hindu that a scientific landfill to dispose of the inert material was being set up. The unit has been established as per the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2000 and norms of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. There is no habitation in the three-km radius around the landfill.

BBMP sources said the unit has been set up at Chigaranahalli in just three months’ time. “Since the composting and all other activities happen inside a shed, there is no stench. The unit can be scaled up, if required, in future to process more waste,” sources added.

Govt. mulls setting up new department for sanitation

Monday, 10 November 2014 06:44 administrator

The Hindu 10.11.2014

Govt. mulls setting up new department for sanitation

It’ll be like the one set up for the supply of drinking water: Urban Development Minister

The State government is thinking of constituting a separate department for sanitation and solid waste management, according to Vinay Kumar Sorake, Minister for Urban Development.

Speaking to presspersons here on Sunday, Mr. Sorake said that the new department would be on the lines of the one set up for the supply of drinking water in urban areas. “We plan to post a senior IAS cadre officer as the head of the department for the systematic disposal of solid waste. The government’s final decision is awaited for the proposal to take shape,” he said.

Mr. Sorake said that due to the shortage of staff in urban local bodies, the department had proposed to recruit for 2,500 various posts and had forwarded a proposal to the Finance Department. On getting the approval, the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) had assured of completing the recruitment process within two months.

“Meanwhile, the government has permitted urban local bodies to appoint the required staff either on contract or outsource it for three months. In addition, 1,000 pourakarmiks will also be appointed on equal pay for equal work,” he said.

The Minister said that the government had proposed Ballari or Hosapete to be developed as a smart city along with eight other major cities in the State. He also informed that the State governmenthad pointed out that the concept of a smart city as has been proposed does not cover inclusive development and had asked to look into the matter.

“We have also proposed that at least three smart cities should come up around Bengaluru keeping in view the population touching nearly a crore,” he added.

Mr. Sorake said that he was not satisfied with the basic civic amenities provided in Ballari and had instructed the Municipal Commissioner to initiate steps to streamline them within two months.

‘A senior IAS cadre officer will head the proposed department for the disposal of solid waste’

Recruitment for 2,500 posts in urban local bodies to be taken up

GHMC to waive property tax up to Rs. 4,000

Friday, 07 November 2014 09:33 administrator

The Hindu 06.11.2014

GHMC to waive property tax up to Rs. 4,000

Move could offer relief to over 10 lakh house owners

In a major decision that could offer relief to more than 10 lakh owners of residential premises in the city, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Standing Committee has decided to waive property tax up to Rs.4,000.

The Mayor, Mohammed Majid Hussain, who chaired the committee meeting on Thursday, later told presspersons that a unanimous resolution was passed to do away with property tax for those paying the tax in the bracket of Re.1 to Rs.4,000.

“It is for residential premises only and perhaps for the first time contemplated by any civic body in the country,” he said.

Government approval

After the general body endorses the resolution, it would be forwarded to the government for approval. “The government has to make certain amendments for which we will personally meet Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and pursue the matter,” he said.

GHMC has around 13.20 lakh assessed properties and this resolution would benefit more than 10 lakh premises.

Huge relief

“The revenue loss would be between Rs.100 crore and Rs.120 crore but it will provide a huge relief to families from below poverty, lower and middle class sections,” said Mr. Hussain flanked by Deputy Mayor G.Raj Kumar.

From Rs.300 crore three years ago, the civic body revenue collection grew to the present Rs.1,000 crore.

High revenues

“We have high revenues and we need to provide the best for our citizens and Rs.100 crore or so is not a big issue for GHMC,” the Mayor said. The committee, however, did not approve and returned a proposal to replace existing street lighting with LEDs to improve illumination levels on roads.

Approval was, however, accorded to construct road/ramp to mid-landing of steps at the Moula Ali dargah for a revised estimate of Rs.220 lakh.

More Articles...