Waste management in Indore to get investment boost

After the cancellation of A2Z Infrastructure Ltd’s contract for transportation and management of solid waste in Indore, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is set to make huge investments towards setting up its own waste-management system.

After the cancellation of A2Z Infrastructure Ltd’s contract for transportation and management of solid waste in Indore, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is set to make huge investments towards setting up its own waste-management system.

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From procurement of dustbins to heavy machinery and increasing the number of sanitation workers, the Central and state governments are looking to invest around Rs 20 crore in the city this fiscal.

Additionally, the governments are also contemplating investing hundreds of crores in Indore in the next couple of years to set up a waste-to-energy conversion plant, waste-to-compost and converting waste-to-brick units.

“At present, the governments at the Centre and state levels are doing a cost-benefit analysis and sustainability of solid waste treatment plants to find solutions to the problem of waste management,” said Manish Singh, the IMC commissioner.

The city generates about 800 metric tonnes of solid waste every day, and given the ever increasing population, the problem is only expected to escalate if the corporation does not take immediate steps.

“We are increasing the number of sanitation workers in the city (the civic body is recruiting at least 500 workers), increasing the number of freight carriers, JCB machines, compactors, dumper trucks to efficiently manage solid waste generated in the city,” Singh said, adding that all this would be done during the current financial year.

Expenditure

500 additional sanitation workers

12 compactor machines at a cost of Rs 40 lakh each

Rs 4 crore for 8 JCB machines and 16 dumper trucks

150 mini trucks and 400 garbage containers at an expenditure of Rs 4 crore

Rs 4 crore per month expenditure on maintenance of machinery and wages of workers