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.
