The Hindu 22.03.2013
Source segregation of garbage soon
Even as announcements pertaining to source segregation and solid waste management are being made in each budget speech, Chennai is struggling to cope with garbage problems.
In his budget speech, Finance Minister O.Paneerselvam admitted that solid waste management in urban areas was a major challenge. “This government will continue to promote source segregation and recycling to limit the disposal of solid waste through land fills,” he said.
In last year’s budget speech, the finance minister had said: “All urban local bodies will practice source segregation of solid waste into degradable and non-degradable components in a phased manner. The government will soon announce an Integrated Solid Waste Management Policy.”
However, solid waste management neither had contours of a policy nor was integrated. The practice of source segregation in Chennai is yet to become popular among residents. A few of the zones trying to promote source segregation have been not successful yet. The civic body has identified some streets such as Mottai Garden Street in ward 48 for promoting source segregation. But the process will be complete only after infrastructure for compost yard is ready. Residents in divisions such as 34 and 35 also reported distribution of pamphlets by Corporation officials to promote source segregation this week.
Over 4,900 tonne of municipal solid waste reaches Kodungaiyur and Perungudi dump yards, where unscientific dumping of waste has been causing fire, smoke and pollution for years.
“Waste to energy projects will be established wherever possible,” the Finance Minister said in the budget speech 2013-2014.
Announcements on waste to energy projects in Kuthambakkam and Minjur are likely to be made next month if an expert panel identifies clean technology among the proposals made by a few companies to Chennai Corporation.
The Corporation has shortlisted 10 proposals for the plants to process 4500 tonnes of municipal solid waste generated in the city. Most of the technologies for converting waste to energy are not environment friendly and the experts are likely to reject most of the proposals next week. Residents of the localities have already voiced concerns about the proposed solid waste management plants.
