NHAI starts lifting processed waste from Bhagtanwala dump

Finally, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started lifting the processed waste from the Bhagtanwala dump after signing an MoU with the Amritsar Municipal Corporation. The NHAI will use it on the central and side verges of highways to grow greenery.

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MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh said for the last several years, garbage from the entire city was being collected at the Bhagtanwala garbage dump. As a result, large heaps of garbage were formed at the dumping ground. He said the work of processing garbage was started at the dump from December 3.

He stated that during the last 21 days, heaps of garbage were being removed from the dump after processing it with a machine. He said so far, around 16,000 tons of garbage has been processed.

The MC Commissioner said after processing the garbage, the refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and other materials obtained from it can be used to build new roads. He said as he was attending a meeting in Chandigarh today, he had asked MC Additional Commissioner Surinder Singh to take all necessary action in consultation with officials of the NHAI and visit the dump with all the officials.

The MC Additional Commissioner said as per the directions of the MC Commissioner, a contract was signed with the NHAI officials. He said today, he visited the dump along with the officials of the NHAI, health officials of the MC and Averda company officials.

He stated that after processing the garbage every day, the authority will take away the RDF and other material derived from the dump. He said the NHAI is constructing new roads and the processed material will be used in their construction.

He said the NHAI has taken away about 100 tonnes of material from the dump today. In the coming days, 100 tonnes of material will be taken away by the NHAI every day. MC Additional Commissioner Surinder Singh said instructions have been issued to the firm to increase the number of machines for processing. He said the company has promised that by January 5, one more machine will be installed for processing.

On the occasion, MC Health Officer Dr Kiran Kumar said after processing, RDF and other materials will be picked up by the NHAI regularly. Besides, manure is being procured after processing the wet garbage. He said so far, over 1,500 bags of manure have been collected.