The Hindu 31.10.2013
‘Waste processing companies only interested in land’
“Companies that come to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara
Palike (BBMP) to solve the garbage problem seem to be interested only on
taking out a loan over the land allotted to them by us,” Mayor B.S.
Sathyanarayana said on Wednesday. “Several companies have come, made
presentations and sought land for their projects. Yet, a permanent
solution to the city’s garbage problem continues to elude us.”
Mr.
Sathyanarayana gave the example of Hanjeer Biotech to illustrate his
statement. BBMP had signed a memorandum of understanding with the
company after the garbage crisis peaked in the city a year ago, and
allotted land for the project at Subbarayanapalya. “We have fulfilled
all their requirements. When we went to Salem to inspect their plant
there, they asked us to construct a compound, which we did. Yet, the
company shows no sign of starting construction at the site. A final
notice will be issued to them in this regard, he said.”
He added that he had directed Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan to cancel the contract with Hanjeer if there was further delay.
Similarly,
the waste to energy plant at Mandur should have been commissioned by
now. According to the Mayor, the company, Srinivas Gayathri Resource
Recovery Ltd., was seeking more time.
The BBMP issued notice to the company, which then promised to commission the plant by December.
Steps forward
Yet,
despite these problems, Mr. Sathyanarayana said he was confident that
the burden on landfills would be greatly reduced next year. By December,
the BBMP hoped to lay the foundation stone for at least four waste
processing projects, including a 1,000-tonne waste to energy plant at
Kannahalli and another 250-tonne plant at Karnataka Compost Development
Corporation.
Earlier, Spurthi Industries Pvt. Ltd.
demonstrated technology that helps dispose garbage in an
environment-friendly manner, eliminating the need for landfills. The
equipment, called Alchemy, with capacity of 400 kg, was showcased at
Rajagopalanagar in Peenya Industrial Area ward.
According
to Sunil Kumar from Spurthi, it requires just one hour to dissolve
waste. There is no smoke or smell. “We use a special solution that
dissolves the waste. One tonne of waste is reduced to just 100 gm. The
dissolved material can be reused to process the next batch of waste.”
Dasarahalli
MLA S. Muniraju, councillor Thimmananjaiah, Deputy Mayor Indira, Ruling
Party Leader Ashwathnarayan Gowda and Janata Dal (S) Floor Leader S.
Prakash were present.