Centre approves Waste-to-Energy project for Chandigarh: Tokhan Sahu
5.10 Lakh MT of legacy waste identified at Dadu Majra dumpsite has been remediated
The Central Government has approved Waste-to-Energy project for Chandigarh. The information was shared by Minister of State for Urban Development and Housing Tokhan Sahu in a matter raised by Manish Tewari, member of parliament, Chandigarh. Tewari had raised the issue under rule 377 in Lok Sabha regarding need for a Waste-to-Energy plant and clearance of garbage dump mound at Dadu Majra in Chandigarh.
In the reply, Sahu informed Tewari that according to the information received from UT of Chandigarh, 5.10 Lakh MT of legacy waste identified at Dadu Majra dumpsite has been remediated. Around 55,000 MT of unprocessed waste accumulated at the site is currently being remediated. The Chandigarh Administration has assured setting up of adequate waste processing to avoid its recurrence.
Sahu further added that under SBM-U 2.0, financial assistance is provided to all States/UTs to attain 100 per cent scientific processing of municipal solid waste through setting up waste processing facilities such as Waste-to-Compost (WIC) plants, Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants, Material Recovery Facility (MRF), Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste processing plants, bio-methanation plants and for Remediation of legacy waste on the basis of action plan, duly approved by State Level Technical Committee (SLTC).
He said that Chandigarh had submitted their project for remediation of 7.67 lakh MT of legacy waste with total project cost of Rs.42.18 crores having Central share of Rs.28.50 crores, which was approved under SBM-U 2.0.
While commenting on the reply, Tewari said his repeated interventions in Parliament to get the Dadu Majra garbage dump eradicated and the site bio remediated seems to be moving forward given the response of the Minister of State for Urban Development and Housing.
The Central Government has approved a Waste-to-Energy project and also approved the Central share of the project. However, the Government of India has underscored the responsibility of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and Chandigarh Administration in ensuring that the dumping site is cleared.
“It is here the laxity of the corporation and administration is glaring as they have repeatedly been given contradictory deadlines for clearing the site to Parliament, Courts and Parliamentary Standing Committees and then not abiding by their commitments and obligations,” added Tewari.
