Apart from being the sixth most-industrialised city in Maharashtra, Kolhapur is among the cities having highest per capita income. In order to address the larger issue of scientific disposal of waste generated in the city, Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) is planning to outsource conversion of waste to energy to a competent agency. Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Prasanna talks about the plans with Clean India Journal.
“Landfill site for the waste to energy (WTE) conversion project is proposed to be set up in an area of 17 hectare in Top village of Kolhapur district. KMC is planning to outsource scientific disposal of its 165TPD waste to a competent agency based on the evaluation of Mumbai-based consultant Crisil Limited. Based on Crisil Report, we will outsource the WTE project for a period of 20 years. Technical bids for the same have been opened but commercial bids are yet to be opened. Technical compliances have to be fulfilled by the concerned agency to qualify for the bid, which may take one month’s time as it requires standing committee approval. We will be able to do the approvals after the first week of March.
At present the land is under litigation due to opposition from the villagers and is under stay order. A Court Commissioner has been appointed and a decision is likely to be taken by the District Court soon.
KMC currently has 150 cycle rickshaws, 300 containers and 10 refuse compactors (RC) to take care of collection and transportation of solid waste. We will be purchasing more 250 containers, two refuse compactors and 130 cycle rickshaws through an open tender. KMC generates close to 145 tonnes of waste per day. All of the waste is lifted mechanically by the 300 containers of one tonne capacity each. We have dustbins of 300 tonne capacity which helps in collecting waste. This has helped us in running the cleaning operation day and night for which more drivers are required. We also do the lifting of garbage in the night with RC. It helps saves time, reduces manpower and has proved to be much faster, cleaner and hygienic.
The SWM processing project that was given to Mumbai based Zoom Bio-Fertilizers Pvt Ltd at Bawada land was stalled in 2011 due to some internal problems. We have now floated a new tender for processing of the solid waste.
We are open to projects on waste recycling too. Tender on waste to energy project should be based on the technology that ensures not more than 10% rejects go to the landfill. Industrial waste is generated in the MIDC area which is not part of the municipal or city waste. Biomedical waste is outsourced to Nature in Need company for a period of 10 years. This was earlier assigned to Das Enterprises. The agency is monitored jointly by KMC, Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
The work for collection, segregation and transportation was earlier given to Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited. They initiated door to door collection but could not succeed. We need to increase civic awareness about either using dustbins properly or disposing off waste scientifically. If people litter the city endlessly throughout the day, it is challenging to keep the city clean and well maintained. Unless this is done, waste management will put a lot of stress on the civic body.”
