Thiruvananthapuram corporation seeks Rs 95 crore for waste treatment plant

Thiruvananthapuram: “Decentralised waste management” is a mantra often repeated by the city corporation, but it has sought Rs 95 crore from the state government for a solid waste treatment plant in the city.

Sources in the city corporation clarified that a centralised plant like Vilappilsala was  impossible in the city. “Even after establishing kitchen bins, biogas plants and aerobins, there could be some organic waste that the corporation will have to directly deal with – like in public places. It is towards this that we are proposing a plant,” said an official.  

They say that the proposal is for small plant. “The National Green Tribunal had issued an order to form a task force which would undertake scientific cleaning of the Vilappilsala site, as well as identify a suitable location to establish a solid waste treatment plant,”  said the official.

A task force has been formed  with  senior-level municipal engineers and scientists from the corporation, an officer each from the Central and State Pollution Control Boards and two other experts  in the field of waste management.  

The location for the new plant has not been identified. “We have only submitted a concept note, and are yet to prepare a DPR,” said the  official. The amount for the plant has been sought from the Rs 500 crore  allocated by the State Planning Department as additional assistance to local bodies. Other than this the corporation has asked for Rs 51.73 crore for a decentralised waste management plant.