The GHMC has obtained clearances for generating 40 MW of power from the 3,100 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste it generates everyday, said Special Commissioner Navin Mittal on Thursday.
The power generation plant will be set up by the municipal corporation’s Public, Private Partner (PPP) Ramky Enviro Engineers at the Jawaharnagar dump yard in Kapra. The Special Commissioner expects the plant to become operational in about a year’s time.
He was addressing a conference on ‘Environmental Resource Conservation – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
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Of the 2,000 million gallons of water utilised daily in the urban areas of the State, only half of it was being treated, he said. It was also time for introduction of multiple bins system for collection of organic and inorganic waste.
The Central and State governments too should think of providing necessary funds to the municipal bodies to tackle solid waste and water pollution.
“Expecting the urban local bodies to generate their own funds through property tax and other methods without providing any portion of taxes collected does not happen anywhere in the world,” Mr. Mittal said.
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Once the countrywide uniform Goods & Services Tax (GST) comes into being, the governments should think of providing one to 1.5 per cent of revenue to the municipal bodies towards meeting capital costs for sustainable development technology, he added.
Director General of Environment Protection & Training Institute of India (EPTRI) A.K. Parida, said the challenge for the country and the industry was to ensure sustainable growth of eight to nine per cent. Cities decide investments, he said, while asserting that tackling municipal waste should be accorded top priority. He advised the industry to strive for bringing in clean technologies.
CII A.P. Chairperson Suchitra Ella, convener M. Goutham Reddy and vice chairman Ashok Reddy, also spoke.