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Monday, January 18, 2010

Functioning of waste treatment plant affected

KOCHI: The functioning of the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant of the Kochi Corporation has been affected due to the sinking of the floor where the machinery was installed. With its floor sinking, the garbage processing capacity of the plant has been reduced considerably. It now functions only at intervals and the plant is not operated during night hours. “Presently, we are not in a position to operate the plant round the clock,” said Mercy Williams, Kochi Mayor. The civic body and the Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Corporation, which installed the plant, had crossed swords regarding the quality of work at the plant. Many areas of the floor of the plant had developed cracks. Some areas sank shortly after the commissioning of the plant. The corporation is planning to seek the assistance of agencies like KITCO for carrying out the rectification works. The officials of the agency, along with the corporation officials, had inspected the plant site last week. The civic authority is hopeful that the agency would support the corporation in implementing the rectification works, Ms. Williams said.

Meanwhile, the civic body has asked its engineering wing to consider the option of carrying out the levelling of the floor and strengthening it after dismantling the machinery. The machinery will be re-installed after completing the floor rectification works. The step is being considered, as the KITCO is yet to convey its decision regarding the repair works. The option of implementing the works using its own team of engineers is also being considered by the civic body. The corporation has not yet made up its mind regarding the selection of agency for running the plant. The civic administrators are of the view that the task of running the plant should be assigned to an external agency which has prior experience in managing such units, she said. A decision on the selling of organic manure produced at the plant to the public sector company FACT will soon be taken. The proposal will be sent for obtaining legal opinion on Monday. The FACT had earlier agreed to purchase the manure for meeting its commitment to market organic manure. Private agencies have also come forward for purchasing the manure, said Ms. Williams.

Source: The Hindu, Dated: 18.01.2010

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