Rajkot plans cheaper way to collect garbage

As per the present operational system,containers of a capacity of 4.5 metric tonnes each are provided wherein waste gets collected and is lifted by a hydraulic lifter and transported it to the treatment plant.

In the initial phase,25 villages near the periphery of RMC are selected for the scheme. After successful implementation of the project in these villages,it will be expanded to all villages in RUDA area.

This entire process for 25 villages in the periphery of Rajkot Municipal Corporation costs Rs 11,50,000 per month to RUDA. To curtail transportation cost,RUDA has adopted a new concept and introduced refuse compactors of a capacity of 18 cubic metre that will collect and compact garbage from multiple containers and then transport it to treatment plant.

“The transportation expense for using these compactors to transport the waste to the treatment plant is expected to be Rs 4,86,000 per month,which will save annual expenses of Rs 90 lakh,” said RUDA Chairman and RMC Commissioner Ajay Bhadoo. For the successful implementation of the project,RUDA would require two refuse compactors of 18 cubic metre capacity for 25 villages,he added.

The women registered under Sakhi Mandals will collect the garbage from door-to-door and transfer it to the containers. Refuse compactors will collect the garbage from the containers and transport it to treatment plant. The women for Sakhi Mandals will be appointed from villages by respective panchayats. This project would also generate employment and revenue for the village self-help groups.

Each refuse compactor will be equipped with a GPS system and its unique bar code which will help RUDA to identify and monitor the waste collection process through a computerised system.

This project will be inaugurated on Saturday by State Urban Development Minister Nitinbhai Patel and State Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala.