The Hindu Business Line : UK seeks tie-ups with Indian cos in waste management

THE Environment Industries Sector Unit (EISU), working under UK Government's Trade and Investment Department, is seeking technology partnerships with Indian companies and municipal bodies in solid waste management.

The UK Trade and Investment assists British and overseas companies to develop trade links.

An eight-member team led by Mr Douglas Barnes, Head of EISU, is currently touring India to examine the scope for such technology partnerships, under which total solid waste management solutions would be offered to municipal bodies or other organisations/companies in India.

Among the visiting companies are Enviros Consulting Ltd (for innovative waste processing technologies), GE Cooper Ltd (on landfill design and operation), Safetykleen Europe (specialists in hazardous waste management technologies) and the Dirk Group (specialists in flyash utilisation).

It is estimated that India generates 1,00,000 tonnes of municipal waste daily. Given the rapid growth in urban population, a major waste disposal crisis is feared. Participating in a workshop organised jointly by the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata and the Environment Management Centre of the Indian Chamber of Commerce , Mr Barnes said India is a priority market for EISU. Giving the West Bengal perspective, Mr K.S. Rajendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Urban Development, West Bengal, said there is an urgent need to modify the existing systems before asking for private participation in technology upgradation. "At the very outset, we must know how much more improvements have to be put in place before new systems are taken up."

According to Mr Debasish Som, Municipal Commissioner, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, landfill designs in Bengal have to be modified to consume less land for tackling municipal waste.

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