Solid waste project: Jal Nigam revises plan to save trees

During a survey of the project area — spread over 88 acres — the Jal Nigam had found 2,036 trees on the land specified for the landfill site. According to the redesign,419 trees will have to be cut down to make the project viable. These include 250 fruiting mango trees and 160 non-fruiting mango trees,teak and eucalyptus. The remaining 1,617 mango trees,which include the Dashehari mother tree,will be maintained by the solid waste management plant operator.

According to the survey report,the 1,617 trees that will be saved are located in a 32-acre area. Since these trees will be maintained,only 42 acre land will be left for the landfill site. In the original plan,the landfill site was to be developed on 64 acres and had a capacity of dumping waste for 25 years. With the reduction in size,the site will be sufficient only for 15 years,said sources.

R K Gaur,Technical Adviser (Construction and Design Services) Jal Nigam,said that environmental clearance has been sought for the redesigned project. He added that the administration will have to look for fresh land after 15 years. “Lucknow city generates over 1,400 metric tonnes of solid waste every day,” said Gaur.

After the environmental clearance,the administration will have to acquire land after which the private operator can start installation of plants at the project site.