Sonowal takes stock of solid waste management project in Dibrugarh

DIBRUGARH: Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday took stock of the progress of the solid waste management project coming up at Lekai on the outskirts of Dibrugarh town.
In 2017, the state government had sanctioned an amount of Rs 75 crore for construction of the plant at Lekai, 5 km away from Dibrugarh town, under the Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment Programme. A deadline of May 1, 2020 was set for completion of the project. However, for various reasons the project which was supposed to permanently solve the solid waste management problem of the town remained slow in its execution.
During his visit on Thursday, the chief minister directed officials to expedite the pace of work and ensure its early completion. He further asked officials to prepare a roadmap for marketing products from the plant like diesel, granules and organic fertiliser.
“The plant will have a big impact on the solid waste management in Dibrugarh town. Dibrugarh is one of the fastest growing urban locations of the state and a scientific and modern waste management system has been long overdue. Once the project is complete, it will be possible to produce 40 metric tonne of organic fertiliser from every 100 metric tonne of solid wastes daily,” Sonowal said.
He added, “This project will fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of generating power from waste under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. We have taken steps to set up similar projects in 98 cities and towns of Assam. Organic fertiliser produced from solid wastes will help in the agricultural sector as well as the tea industry.”