JOIN USMCC nod to implement SWM in city
After an inordinate delay for several years, the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has at last shown green signal to implement the two package solid waste management system comrpising of collection and transportion of the garbage in 60 wards in the corporation limits.
The civic body has signed an agreement on Friday, with the Mumbai based Antony Waste Handling Pvt. Ltd to manage solid waste in the city.
Though the State government had approved the first and second package tender almost two years ago, there was dilly-dallying on the part of the MCC and the contractor to sign the agreement. Under the three package SWM scheme, the third package has been already handed over to the Delhi based IL & FS Environmental Infrastructure and Services Ltd which has been operating the waste disposal at landfill site in Pacchhanady. The contractor prepares the manure from waste at the compost unit.
Now, with the Corporation making up its mind to implement the scheme in a comprehensive way, the system is expected to bring in a sea change in the solid waste handling process in Mangalore city.
Sources in the Corporation said that though the agreement has been signed, the work order will be issued to the contractor only after he produces the bank guarantee. The contract agreement makes it mandatory for the contractor to purchase new multiple vehicles including those for hydraulic lifting of waste.
Therefore, the contractor has been given a period of three months, for presenting a comprehensive route map of the implementation, produce newly purchased vehicles and carry out trial version of the handling process.
The scheme will be implemented in a full-fledged manner in December. The tenure of the local contractors who are now handling the waste under eight-package system which will expire this month end, will be renewed for a period of two months, the sources said.
A trend setter?
The three package SWM scheme touted as first of its kind in the State, has the responsibility of setting precedent, good or bad, based on its success or failure. With several other urban local bodies including Hubli-Dharwad waiting to adopt the model, the MCC has the huge task of making it a success.
First two packages that deal with door-to-door waste collection, segregation, mechanised sweeping, beach cleaning and transportaion of waste in the south and north zone of the MCC, aim at a systematic handling of waste by bringing synchronisation among various components.
Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike Convener Hanumanth Kamath, though welcomed the move, expressed apprehension over the effective implementation of the scheme. “The three package system which has been meticulously planned, is expected to bring a change in handling of waste in the city.
However, the implementation largely depends on the officials in the city corporation who must play a major role to monitor the process. Often, the contractors who operate present eight package system, violate the contract guidelines and manage to dodge. Though door-to-door collection has been already made mandatory, it has not been implemented even to the tune of 30 per cent,” Kamath said.
While emphasising on the need for public co-operation for the success of the scheme, Kamath pointed at the necessity to ensure that the main contractor does not give sub-contract to the local contractors, budging to their demand. Formation of ward committees, perhaps can help to monitor the process.
SWM cess
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mayor Mahabala Marla said that the civic body will take necessary measures for the transparent and effective implementation of the scheme. “We will not pay the amount to the contractor until and unless he carries out the work efficiently.”
To a query on how the Corporation will bear the expenses, as around Rs 12 crore was spent annually on SWM in the current system and approximately Rs 21 crore is spent on the new system (which is nearly double the amount), Mahabala Marla said plan of collecting SWM cess from general public is on the pipeline.
Cess will be imposed once the scheme is implemented.