Deccan Chronicle 17.09.2009

Global firm gives tips for civic body

Chennai, Sept. 17: If the ambitious proposals of Manila-based Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) for managing the city’s waterways and solid waste were to be implemented by the city corporation, it could shop for investments for infrastructure projects abroad to complete them in record time, and cash in on selling the mounds of garbage generated.

The corporation had approached CDIA in 2007 to have a re-look at the City Development Plan (CDP) 2006, a document to guide the development of Chennai Metropolitan Area, including parts of Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, up to 2026, and suggest ways to bridge the gaps.

Apart from drafting a revised CDP, which will be open to public review for the first time, CDIA has come up with a pre-feasibility report after a year of ground research to suggest infrastructure projects to manage its rivers and solid waste, which it will soon submit to the government.

“While analysing the investment strategies for the city, we found that investment of 250 million dollars was required for infrastructure projects. Apart from the funds allocated under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, (it does not cover water bodies), international financing institutions and greater public-private partnership is required,” explained Nadir Ehsan, senior municipal development specialist, CDIA.

In solid waste management, rather than the corporation losing money by paying private agencies, it could sell waste to them and earn royalty to fund other projects.

As one of the biggest hurdles for management of water bodies was the lack of a central authority to oversee implementation, the report suggests the setting up of an ‘apex body’, said Mr M. Dheenadhayalan, team leader of DHV consultancy firm that did the study.