The Hindu Business Line : More private participation sought for handling garbage in AP

THE city of Hyderabad generates 2,300 tonnes per day (tpd) of municipal solid wastes (MSW). Of this, 400 tonnes is currently being utilised by a private company named Selco to generate power, the rest is dumped.

Interestingly, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has closed down the Gandhamguda dump yard, following public complaints. Along with this, it wants to either scientifically cap or mine the Autonagar dump yard, as well, very soon.

Now, where do the huge amounts of MSW generated go? Jawaharnagar, on the outskirts of Hyderabad is the location, where a dump yard has been created, though it has not been cleared yet said Mr M. Siva Reddy and Mr S. Surya Prasad of the APPCB.

In the entire State, there are 120 municipalities (including 9 corporations), whose combined output of MSW is of the order of 11,000 tpd. Of this, just 1,500 tpd is being scientifically handled.

At least 31 municipalities, which are special grade, have reasonable funds to promote measures to handle the wastes, which is already an environmental issue. 67 municipalities have been asked to improve their dumpyards.

The Board officials told newspersons today that in the case of Hyderabad, the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH), had called for expression of interest from private entrepreneurs and it has received 13 proposals for the setting up of processing plants.

The Board wants private enterprises to set up an integrated solid waste management project, which includes a waste-to-energy and a landfill. For a typical 6 MW power generating unit and a landfill, the costs would work out to around Rs 60 crore.

Andhra Pradesh is an attractive destination for entrepreneurs to set up such units, since the tariff offered per unit of power supplied is Rs 3.42, which is the highest in the country, said Mr Siva Reddy, Senior Environmental Engineer (MSW).

The State Government has received 20 proposals for setting up waste-to-energy projects, he said. At present there are alteast 5 MSW processing plants in the State at Vijayawada established by Excel, Gandhamguda & Shadnagar (Selco) and Guntur and Vijayawada of Sri Rama Industries.

To give a boost to private sector setting up integrated MSW plants, experts have suggested that a tipping fee be offered by the MCH, say at the rate of Rs 200 per tonne for processing and disposing it to the landfill. This would act as an incentive.

At present, the municipality collects royalty, the Board officials said. With public pressure bound to increase urgent steps are needed, they pointed out.

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