Expert panel to monitor KMC hot-mix plants

KOLKATA: The civic body has finally set up a committee of experts to monitor functioning of hot-mix plants that supply materials required for Kolkata’s road repairs.


The panel of experts from IIT-Kharagpur, KMDA, HRBC and KMC will take stock of the pollution index of the two KMC-maintained plants at Palmerbazar (Beliaghata) and Goragachha (Taratala) for now. They will also suggest, from time to time, measures to keep these plants operational.

The panel on Saturday held a meeting with Ratan De, member, mayor-in-council overseeing the KMC roads department, and discussed the measures to be taken to improve the hot-mix plants and make them environment-friendly.

De later said the roads department would appeal before the NGT to give the KMC six months to improve the condition of the plants. making it environment friendly. “We have decided to appeal before the NGT to give us six months so that we can upgrade out plants based on the suggestions from the experts. If we need to relocate these plants, we will do so by next year. Even then, we need to keep tabs on the pollution and keep upgrading. We welcome suggestions from the members of the expert committee,” the MMiC said.

Setting up the committee was necessary following a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that asked the civic body to close down the hot-mix plants on pollution grounds. Sources in the KMC roads department said a discussion was under way on whether to adopt an alternative heating process in the plants to produce hot-mix materials which will produce less fumes. “We have started discussing alternative technologies, which will minimize the pollution levels at these plants,” said a roads department official. He, however, refused to elaborate on the technology.

The committee will also monitor the condition of roads before and after repair. “The committee members, all engineers and researchers, will not only inspect the roads which tend to develop potholes and suggest the exact multi-layer repair process, but they will also advise us on better laying and maintenance of arterial roads and major thoroughfares. This will help us make the roads smooth and durable,” said an official.

According to another roads department official, the civic brass also want to adopt a better maintenance manual for arterial roads, like EM Bypass and DH Road.