Scientific disposal of solid waste generated in Gulbarga as per the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court is still a distant dream. The State government is yet to clear a proposal to hand over management of an estimated 170 tonnes of solid waste generated here every day to a Pune-based firm on build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis.
More than a decade ago, 28.19 acres of land required for dumping solid waste generated in the city was identified on the outskirts of Udnur village, seven kilometre from the city.
The land has been acquired and on one side a compound wall has been constructed.
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However, scientific disposal of solid waste without causing harm to environment and ecology by segregating wet and dry solid waste and solid waste that can be recycled and others that cannot be recycled as prescribed by the court is yet to take a final shape.
According to information available with The Hindu on Tuesday, the Gulbarga City Corporation has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pune-based MS Hanjir Biotech Pvt. Ltd. to establish the waste disposal unit with a lease period of 25 years.
As per the agreement the entire investment for the project is the responsibility of the Pune-based company.
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A detailed project report has been submitted to the government and now the proposal is before the Cabinet for final approval.
As per the MoU, the Pune-based company will recycle 80 per cent of the solid waste for production of biogas and biofuel to be used in boiler plants.
The remaining solid waste that cannot be recycled will be be dumped in a 50 x 50 landfill.
At present, solid waste generated in the city is being dumped haphazardly in open places. Only around 20 per cent of the solid waste collected is dumped at the Udnur plot.
When contacted, Environment Officer, Gulbarga City Corporation, Abhay Chandra, said that the Pune firm was ready to start work once the final approval is given.