Corporation shortlists 11 firms to set up waste mgmt plants

CHENNAI: After a hiatus, Chennai Corporation’s plan to scientifically close the two dump yards in the city and find an alternative location for managing solid waste is gathering momentum. To carry out remediation, set up waste processing plants and scientifically close the dump yards, corporation shortlisted 11 companies who made presentations in March. In 2012, the corporation announced its decision to close the Kodungaiyur and Perungudi dump yards using the capping method.
As part of the plan, the corporation will first purchase two waste-management plants. Work orders for the plants are expected to be given in the next three months, a senior corporation official said.
Each plant will be able to treat and recycle 2,000 tonnes of organic waste and 2,500 tonnes of inorganic waste. Chennai’s homes, institutions, hotels and industries generate 5,000 tonnes of waste every day. Additional modular attached to the plants will take care of the extra waste, officials said.
If the state government approves a proposal, the plants will be come up on lands identified in Kuthambakkam and Minjur, on the city’s outskirts. Residents in these places have been protesting ever since the proposal was made. Panchayat representatives of Kuthambakkam that the proximity of the land to Chembarambakkam lake, one of the four reservoirs supplying water to Chennai, will be polluted.
But corporation says it is not merely shifting the problem of dumping garbage. “The land will be used for sorting and managing waste. There will be no dumping,” the official said. “The plants will convert combustible waste into energy and wet waste will be composted. But if the proposal is not approved, we will set up the plants at the existing grounds at Kondungaiyur and Perungudi. Once the current generation of waste is diverted, we will proceed with steps to close the dumping grounds permanently.”
The corporation will apply for grants to the Centre through a viability gap funding programme where the centre will meet 20% of the cost of the project or Rs 80 crore, whichever is lesser.