The Hindu : Fresh garbage crisis in the offing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Fresh garbage crisis in the offing

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 1. The City Corporation has resumed its hunt for temporary dumping grounds to stave off the threat of a fresh garbage crisis after the Poabs Group signalled its refusal to operate the Vilappilsala treatment plant at full capacity.

Hardly 15 loads of garbage are being transported to the plant daily against the normal requirement of over 40 loads. Corporation officials said the operators had informed the local body of its inability to receive the full quota till their demand for a buy- back agreement for the by-product fertiliser was finalised.

The promoting company has moved the Government in a fresh move to surmount its operational hurdles and get the project back on stream. Company officials said they were waiting for the Government's response.

The garbage collection system in the city has been bogged down since August when the Poabs Group running the plant locked horns with the Corporation and shut down operations. Claiming to have incurred a huge operational loss, the company is demanding Government support to market the bio fertiliser.

The row between the two BoT partners was temporarily resolved and the plant resumed operations last month after the District Panchayat procured 1,000 tonnes of fertiliser on the basis of a Government- sponsored settlement. But the Poabs Group argues that the off take had provided only a temporary respite since it was a one- time procurement.

In a proposal submitted to the Government, the promoters had recommended a buyback arrangement under which the Government procures the manure from the company. The proposal points to a host of uncertainty factors, which have threatened the project over the last two years. These include short supply and low quality of garbage provided by the Corporation, the local agitation against the plant and the high labour turnover.

The company is demanding that the Government or the Corporation reimburse the capital incurred for the project. It has also proposed that the government or the local body could take over the plant after refunding the investment along with interest arrears.

The Mayor, J.Chandra, accused the company of using pressure tactics to get their demands conceded. She said the Corporation could not afford to take up the responsibility of marketing the fertiliser. Civic officials maintain that the company is guilty of contractual violation. They allege that the operators are inventing excuses to exit from the BoT pact.

Frantic efforts are on to identify temporary dumping sites but officials admit that it is only a stopgap arrangement. Previous attempts had led to a flurry of protests from local people, forcing garbage vehicles to beat a hasty retreat.

The threat of a fresh crisis has reignited the demand for a take over of the plant from the operators.

The State Pollution Control Board is reported to have informed the local body that it is prepared to provide technical support to run the plant.

Meanwhile, the State Government is preparing the grounds for a comprehensive review of the garbage processing project. The proposal for the review, which was submitted, to the government by the Bangalore-based Infrastructure Development Financing Company involves a survey of the operations of the compost plant and preparation of a waste management strategy and action plan for the City Corporation.

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