Now,single firms to handle waste management projects in 9 towns

A project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission,it will be executed in Lucknow,Aligarh,Mathura,Jhansi,Meerut,Gorakhpur,Allahabad,Vara-nasi and Moradabad.

“Tenders will be floated this week for these cities along with four districts — Basti,Badaun,Balia and Sambhal. In these districts,the firms will work in association with the local civic bodies,” said Singh. The waste management infrastructure will be developed within a year from the date of award of contract in the districts.

The decision to employ a single firm was taken after past experiences of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC). In 2003,LMC and Asia Bio Energy (India) Limited (ABIL) had jointly set up a “waste to electricity” project on the Lucknow-Hardoi Road. According to the deal,LMC was supposed to collect solid waste and ABIL had to treat it for power generation. But ABIL shut down the plant within a year saying that LMC was not providing the type of waste which was ideal for power generation.

“Non-cooperation of separate firms in collection and treatment of solid waste was affecting the project in big cities. So,it has been decided to assign the entire task to a single firm,” Singh said. However,that firm could collaborate with other firms but on its own responsibility,he added. In the four districts,local bodies are being roped in to make the operations profitable for the selected firms.

At present,over 1,400 metric tonne of solid waste is generated daily in Lucknow. According to Singh,the firm will charge fees from the residents for collection of domestic solid waste. The LMC will decide the charges depending upon the area.

Collected waste will be sprayed with herbal solution to check foul smell. The organic and inorganic components of the solid waste will be segregated. Organic matter will be decomposed to make bio-fertilisers. Other waste like wood will be used for making refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The firm will be allowed to make earnings through sale of bio-fertilisers and RDF.

The Centre has so far approved solid waste management project for 21 cities of the state. Work has already begun in few districts,including Rae Bareli,Kannauj,Muzaffarnagar,Agra and Kanpur. The cost of project in each city will range from Rs 4 to Rs 56 crore.