Source : The Hindu Date : 27.06.2009
Solid waste management clusters on the anvil: Stalin
Special Correspondent
| Facility on the lines of the Venkatamangalam model |
Agreements concluded for leasing out land to implement scheme
Tenders received for appointment of consultant to develop infrastructure in 12 urban local bodies
CHENNAI: The possibility of setting up solid waste management clusters for efficient management on the lines of the Venkatamangalam model is being explored, according to Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
[Under the Venkatamangalam model, a common compost plant and sanitary landfill facility has been established for the three municipalities of Alandur, Pallavapuram and Tambaram. Early this month, the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department issued an order, according permission to lease out 2,99,477 square metres of land in Venkatamangalam village in Kancheepuram district on an annual rent of Re.1 per sq metre for 20 years to the concessionaire.]
Initiating a debate on the demands for grants to Municipal Administration, Water Supply, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Departments, Mr. Stalin said agreements had been concluded with different private agencies for leasing out land to implement the solid waste management scheme on the basis of build, operate and transfer in Coimbatore and Madurai municipal corporations and Namakkal municipality.
As for the Urban Road Infrastructure Project, tenders were received on May 15 for the appointment of a consultant for design, supervision and management for developing the urban infrastructure in 12 urban local bodies.
Nagercoil, Pollachi, Sattur, Ariyalur and Mannargudi were among the urban local bodies where it was proposed to take up works on underground sewerage systems (UGSS) under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns this year. The total cost would come to Rs.503.94 crore. On the implementation of geographical information system in Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchi corporations and Rajapalayam and Gobichettipalayam municipalities, the Minister informed the House that the consultant had prepared the base map for Coimbatore.
Imageries for four other local bodies were awaited from the National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad. Data collection in the four urban local bodies (ULBs) was in progress. The consultant had also started preparing web-based GIS application for all the five ULBs.
The Centre had approved works of the UGSS in nine town panchayats, including Porur, Sembakkam and Chittlapakkam, at an estimated cost of about Rs.349 crore. Chennai Metrowater would implement the works this year.