Rajkot municipality budget to stress on solid waste treatment

The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC), which is preparing its annual budget for 2004-05, will provide special provisions for the cleanliness of the city under the Apex Court for Solid Waste (Management & Control) Act, 2000.

According to the newly appointed commissioner of Rajkot, Mukesh Kumar, the budget may spare Rs 3-4 crore to dispose off solid waste accumulated in the city.

The corporation has plans to set up a solid waster management plant at Nakarwadi, which is outside Rajkot city. At the plant, solid waste will be converted into electricity and fertilisers. The plant will be undertaken by the Hanzar Biotech Engineering which will go operational from March 2004.

Further, provisions have also been made in the budget to develop "land fill site" for the disposal of garbage and solid waste accumulated in the city, RMC officials said. For the disposal of dead animals in the city, a Rs 30 lakh special furnace will be set up.

For the collection of accumulated garbage and solid waste from different parts of the city, more than 555 garbage containers will be put up at different places of Rajkot.