Single firms in Kanpur,Agra to be handed entire task of solid waste management

The solid waste management systems in these cities would be set up on a public private partnership model. Fifty per cent of the cost will be borne by the Centre,30 per cent by the municipal corporation and 20 per cent by the state government.

In 2008,after the Centre’s approval,the state government had appointed A2Z Infrastructure in Kanpur and M/S Hanjer Biotech in Agra for only composting of the solid waste. The collection of solid waste and its dumping at landfill site was to be done by the municipal corporation.

According to sources,both the firms are currently setting up the infrastructure for composting the solid waste.

Kanpur generates 1,500 tonnes of solid waste per day from domestic and commercial sources. Agra generates 750 tonnes of solid waste per day.

Alok Ranjan,Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department,said: “A meeting has been called to decide whether the same firms should be allocated the job of door-to-door collection and disposal or some other new firms should be appointed for this additional work.”

After Agra and Kanpur,the total number of cities would increase to 11,where single firms are being appointed to handle the entire management of solid waste. The other nine cities are Lucknow,Aligarh,Mathura,Jhansi,Meerut,Gorakhpur,Allahabad,Varanasi and Moradabad.

Under the project,door-to-door collection of the solid waste will take place. After segregation,organic matter will be decomposed to make bio-fertilisers. Other wastes like wood will be used for making refused-derived fuel. Eighty per cent of waste would be utilised and 20 per cent would be disposed at the landfill sites.

The nodal agency for the project,UP Jal Nigam,has selected A2Z Maintenance for carrying out the project in Moradabad,Aligarh,Meerut and Varanasi. M/S Jyoti Build Tech has been chosen for Lucknow. While Subhash Projects and Marketing have been chosen for Mathura and Allahabad,PAT Projects will carry out the work in Gorakhpur and Jhansi.

In the nine cities,the process to sign the agreement of work between the selected firm,respective urban local body and the Construction and Design Services (UP Jal Nigam) is likely to be completed by the end of February.

According to officials,a municipal corporation spends Rs 700-750 for collection of each tonne of solid waste. The selected firms have offered to charge Rs 500-550 per tonne of solid waste.