CMDA nod awaited for setting up Pallikaranai compost yard

By S.Shanker

CHENNAI, AUG. 2. The private agency entrusted with the task of developing a compost yard at Pallikaranai for producing manure from municipal garbage is waiting for planning permission from the CMDA for the last seven months.

Sources said papers seeking permission were forwarded by the Pallikarnai Panchayat, which, on receipt of the approval, would accord the building permission. The agency, however, obtained the `consent' for the project from the State Pollution Control Board about six months ago. Activity at the site is yet to start and only dumping of garbage is taking place.

The private company signed an MoU with the Alandur Municipality on August 21 last, agreeing to pay annual rental charges on a graded scale from Rs.4.55 lakh to Rs. 8.10 lakh for a 15-year period for running the compost yard on a BOT basis at a 15-acre site in Pallikaranai. Sanction for offering the land on a 15-year lease up to March 31, 2015 was obtained from the Municipal Administration Department. Besides the lease amount, the Alandur Municipality will also receive Rs. 3.50 per tonne for refuse supplied. This works out to over Rs.90,000 a year.

Meanwhile, local bodies in the neighbourhood such as St. Thomas Mount, Pallavaram Cantonment Board, Ullagaram- Puzhuthivakkam and Pallavaram have started despatching about 20 tonne of garbage to the site daily. The Alandur Municipality is also dumping about 65 tonne of municipal refuse daily.

Sources said the delay in grant of permission pushed the commissioning of the project by at least six months, as over 3000 sq.ft. of built-up area had to be constructed for housing the composting process machinery. However, fencing of the site has been completed. A weigh-bridge has also been commissioned to measure the quantity of refuse delivered at the site.

The quantum of waste delivered by the Alandur Municipality has increased after privatisation of garbage clearance for a third of the town. Noticing improvement in the working of the private agency, which from 15 tonne a day during the initial period has started clearing 25 tonne, the Municipality has stepped up it efforts. It is now able to clear about 65 tonne a day as against 45 tonnes a few weeks ago.

With the Pollution Control Board issuing notices to the local bodies cautioning them against burning of waste to prevent emission of carcinogenic gases such as Dioxin, commissioning of the composting yard at the earliest is important. Most local bodies burn garbage to reduce the volume of the refuse.

Owing to its proximity to the airport, the municipal authorities have been repeatedly asked to ensure proper management and disposal of waste.

It is not waste management alone that is in a neglected state in the city and its suburbs. Public health is also given low priority as seen here on the Mogappair road near Thirumangalam. - K. Pichumani

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