KMC had recieved proposals from private entrepreneurs for projects to convert around 3200 ton of solid waste generated in the city per day to produce 54MW of electricity, claimed Sushil Kumar Sharma, mayor-in-council for environment of KMC at a meet organised by city-based NGO, Concern for Calcutta.
Sharma clarified that the project was still in a nascent stage. Around 30 acres would be required for the project, and once a final decision was taken by the municipal body, global tenders could be called, he added.
The project was crucial as at the current rate of waste disposal, the city would soon require another 102 acres as waste disposal ground. KMC and WBPCB were against the use of thin plastic bags of below 40 micron.
While manufacturing units for this in the state were shut down, thinner bags were coming in from adjoining states.
The government was not successful in convincing consumer not to use thin plastic bags, admitted Dipak Chakraborty, chief scientist of WBPCB.
More From This Section
Alternatives like paper or jute bags were missing when a ban was imposed on use of thin plastic bags and prices for the consumer were up, said Tapan Gooptu of Concern for Calcutta.
KMC would collaborate with WBPCB to detect illegal manufacturing units in the state and cancel trade licences, Sharma claimed. WBPCB recently slammed a fine of Rs50,000 each on city two nursing homes for poor in-house waste management. More nursing homes in UIuberia, Khiderpore and Salt Lake were sent notices for closure on the same grounds.