Corp has a way out for bulk waste generators

Thiruvananthapuram: Those entities that generate waste in large scale – like caterers, abattoirs, religious institutions, etc – can now enter into a contract with the city corporation for installing and running waste processing plants, provided the former identify land for the same.
“We are looking at a collective of establishments that are bulk waste generators who can share a common waste plant. The city corporation will set up the plant free of cost,” said mayor V K Prasanth.

Large-scale waste generators have long been a headache for the local body. There had been instances where private parties take over waste from them and dump it on roadsides and into drains. Although the civic body had earlier engaged a private firm for collecting waste from poultry farms, it failed to invoke a warm response.

The corporation has recently decided to give susbidy up to Rs 1 lakh for installing solid waste management facilities in apartments. In a meeting of apartment residents’ associations and builders convened in October, the mayor said 50% of total cost incurred by apartments in installing waste management facilities would be borne by the corporation.

The civic body has also mandated that new building plans for flats and building complexes will be approved only if provisions are arranged for source-level solid and liquid waste management system. It had civic body had insisted on ensuring sewage treatment plants before issuing occupancy certificate to builders and eventually locked horns with local self-government department over the same. The department’s weak stance over the issue had often spelt trouble for the corporation.