Building on civic responsibility

Developers are getting into upgrading civic amenities in Kochi city instead of waiting for the local authorities to act. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (Credai) Kochi, an association of professional builders of Kerala, as part of enlarging its activities in corporate social responsibility has registered an NGO under the name Credai Clean City Movement.

The activities envisaged under the scheme include solid waste management system with a sustainable financing method without drawing on public money.

According to Mr Kabeer B. Haroon, Project Director of Clean City Movement, Credai Kochi has placed before the Corporation Council two proposals — electronic toilets in various parts of the city and an Electronic Waste Management Centre.

He said public can dump waste at the centre which will be collected on a weekly basis by an authorised agency to Palakkad.

From there, it will be moved to processing centres in Bangalore and Hyderabad. The collection centre will be maintained by Credai Clean City Movement, he said.

e-toilets

There are also plans to set up at least 10 electronic toilets and the association has already received Rs1.5 crore as sponsorship for the venture.

A model toilet at the district collectorate compound, has been successfully running for the last few months.

How it started

It may be recalled that the association had launched its voluntary mission during the garbage crisis in 2007 an eco-friendly solid waste management system with the focus on health, hygiene and safety measures in the high-rise apartments.

The system was progressively established in other complexes and as of now approximately 20 per cent of the biodegradable waste in Kochi is being treated at source itself.

The studies conducted by independent agencies on the tonnage of solid waste processed by Credai, it is estimated that the Corporation will save Rs 200 lakh annually.

Credai Kochi is on the verge of achieving a holistic system of solid waste management in the apartment complexes.

It had successfully implemented the system in 200 apartment complexes in and around Kochi having 15,000 units which accounts for 22.5 tonnes of daily wet garbage, he said.

An awareness campaign was initiated in the apartment complexes. Now, 70 per cent of apartments are covered by this scheme. .

Credai Clean City has decided to spread its efforts to residences. A suitable model has been identified and successfully test-run in some gated colonies.

Credai also set up a plastic shredding unit and shredded material is used along with bitumen for polymerised tarring of the roads.

CredaiI Clean City has also launched an awareness campaign in 24 schools in association with the Consumer Protection Council of Kerala. “We intend spreading this to all schools and colleges shortly”, Mr Haroon said.

Besides, it has also initiated steps for beautification and regular cleaning of roads and drains. It has also implemented the Bio Bin system to process the bio degradable waste using the naturally occurring microbes and the garbage turns into useful organic fertiliser.

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