Collector gets charge of waste-to-energy plant

KOCHI: In an apparent shove in the face for the Corporation, which had allegedly dragged its feet on the waste-to-energy treatment plant at Brahmapuram here, the state government in an order entrusted the District Collector with the implementation and monitoring of the `375 crore plant. The decision was taken by the State Level Advisory Committee.

The order dated February 20 said the Collector will be responsible for implementing the project. It also vested the Collector with the powers to initiate measures to demarcate and hand over land to GJ Eco Power, which will set up the plant.  

The Collector has been asked to coordinate the project by exercising the powers of the Revenue Department and  the District Magistrate since the coordination of various government departments is required for its execution. “All the implementing officers of the project shall refer issues pertaining to the execution to the Collector who has to submit the report on the progress achieved in implementation every two weeks to the Local Self Government (LSG) Department,” it said. The Collector will have complete power over the plant till the project goes on stream.

“For the government, it is a prestigious project and they don’t want to delay it any further. The Corporation has proved it is a failure in implementing the projects which had been conceived years ago. This might have forced the government to take over the power from the Corporation and to appoint the Collector for implementing the project,” said Opposition councillor V P Chandran.

Reacting to the government order, Mayor Soumini Jain said the government’s move to entrust the District Collector with the task of the project’s further development will not undermine the civic body’s powers.
“The Corporation itself is inviting tenders and implementing the project. The Collector’s role will be to act as a link between the government departments and the local body. He will be responsible for securing clearances from various agencies and to fast-track the project’s implementation. The government has taken the decision in consultation with the Corporation,” Jain said.

Meanwhile,  Collector K Mohammed Y Safeerulla on Thursday convened the meeting of GJ Power officers at his chamber. “The Collector mainly discussed the steps needed for further development of the projects. Only after the land is handed over, the company will be able to complete the procedures and start work,” said a GJ officer.