Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is set to do away with the system of skinning the carcasses of dead animals at its Gajrawadi facility. The skinning as well as disposal of the carcasses has often sparked rows because of the stench in the area.
The VMC presently has a plant that processes carcasses and generates manure from it. But before being put in the plant at Gajrawadi, the animals have to be skinned and their bones have to be removed. Their remains are buried in the area by sanitation workers.
The buried remains were often dug up by animals and the area faced a major issue of foul smell emanating from the process of skinning and removing bones. Despite several efforts by the civic body, the problem had remained.
VMC medical officer Dr Devesh Patel said that the new plant was called ‘whole animal shredder’ as the new plant coming up at Gajrawadi will shred the carcasses into very small shreds. The shreds can directly be used for composting in the existing plant to prepare manure.
The civic body had invited bids for the project on three occasions. On the third occasion, two vendors came forward with bids. The agency installing the shredder will also maintain it for three years. The civic body will spend Rs 1.33crore on setting up the plant. Also, an expense of Rs 99lakh will be made every month towards operations and maintenance of the plant.
The sanitation workers who are presently employed in the process of skinning the carcasses and removing their bones will now be roped in for the plant. Officials said that their employment will thus be protected.