KOCHI: The City Corporation has prepared a detailed project report for implementing solid waste management projects worth Rs 44 crore, using the funds allocated by the Union government. The cost of the projects, which focus on waste management at source, will be shared between the Centre, State government and the local body.
“The funds have been allocated under Swachh Bharat Mission for implementing various solid waste management projects. The Corporation can use the funds for any solid waste management project. The Corporation’s viability gap fund for the proposed waste to energy plant at Brahmapuram will also be met from the funds,” said Mayor Soumini Jain.
The Corporation has to provide Rs 2,000 per one tonne of garbage as viability gap fund to GJ Eco Power Pvt Ltd, the private firm running the waste to energy plant. The civic body has to meet the difference between the production cost and KSEB’s purchase rate of electricity generated from waste in the plant.
Setting up aerobic compost and biogas plants in households, material collection and recovery facilities and establishment of a proper waste segregation and collection system are some of the major projects to be undertaken using the funds.
“As part of source-level management of biodegradable waste, devices like biogas plants, ring compost units, bucket compost units, bio bins, vermin compost units, bio digester pots and bins will be distributed to 18,000 families spending Rs 4.57 crore,” said V.P Chandran, CPM councillor and member of health standing committee.
Aerobic compost units and biogas plants will be set up as part of establishing community and institutional level facilities for processing biodegradable garbage, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.70 crore.
To improve infrastructure facilities to manage non-biodegradable waste, a material collection centre and a material recovery facility will be set up.
Rs 6.05 crore has been set aside to streamline waste segregation and collection system. Mobile app and website will be launched for proper waste collection system. As many as 1,000 tricycles will be purchased for waste collection. Funds will also be used for capacity building and awareness programmes.
