Coimbatore Corporation is considering a proposal put forward by a consultant to install a debris management plant at Rs. 12 crore. According to sources in the civic body, the consultant has suggested that it construct the plant with a capacity to process debris up to 250 tonnes.
The Coimbatore Corporation at present collects anywhere between 100 — 200 tonnes of debris a day. The exact amount of debris collected in a day is not known as no scientific estimation has been made.
The sources say that the Corporation will provide land for the contractor who it will engage to install the plant. It will be on the build, own, operate and transfer model.
While the contractor operates the plant, the Corporation will have to collect and transport the debris to the plant.
The sources say that the Corporation is also planning to privatise the transport operations in such a way that the contractor operating the plant will pay the transport contractor based on the quantity of debris. And while doing so, the civic body also plans to have five debris collection points — one each a zone.
At the plant, the debris will be cleaned — plastics, wood and polythene will be removed, segregated into bricks, brick-rich blocks and concrete and then sent for either dry process or wet process, where it will be broken down into pieces of varying sizes.
The broken down pieces will then be process and manufactured into kerb stones, hollow blocks, cement blocks, pavement blocks, etc. Or, it will be sold as such. The sources say that from the date of grant of order for erecting the plant, the contractor will take eight months. The Corporation will have to provide land — around 10 acres and infrastructure like roads, nominate a nodal officer for smooth operation of the project, provide water supply and ensure collection and transportation of waste and render assistance in selling the end product.
The cost works out to around Rs. 526 a tonne.
The sources say that the Corporation has passed a resolution in this regard, has also proposed to hike the debris charges while granting building plan approval, is in the process of creating awareness among residents, has held talks with builders and property promoters and done much more.
Once the State Government gives approval, the Corporation will go ahead with the work in full swing. And as and when the plant comes into operation, the city’s residents will not see debris on tank bunds and alongside roads.
