The corporation is planning to set up a plant to recycling construction debris in the wake of the proposed demolition of four apartment complexes in Maradu. The local body has mooted the proposal after a state-level appraisal committee for solid waste management suggested setting up such a plant.
The committee for solid waste management has also asked the corporation to allot 10 acres at Brahmapuram for dumping the building debris. The corporation authorities are waiting for the approval of the council of the local body.
“It is important to have such a plant to dump construction and demolition waste. Kochi is a city, where there are many apartment complexes and buildings and some of them have to be razed at the end of their lifespan,” said V P Chandran, secretary, LDF parliamentary party, Kochi Corporation.
“We will have to think of setting up such a plan right now,” he said, adding that then only, the waste generated from demolitions can be properly managed.
The corporation authorities, haven’t yet discussed about allotting 10 acres to dump the construction waste at the health standing committee, which is responsible for designing and implementation of projects related to treatment of waste.
“Normally, such issues should have been discussed at the standing committee. Such issues are usually sent for the council’s consideration with the committee’s recommendations,” said Chandran, who is also a member of health standing committee.
At the same time, locals have hit out at the proposal to set up one more waste treatment plant. “Already, we have a solid waste treatment plant and a sewage treatment plant at Brahmapuram. There is also a proposal for setting up a biomedical treatment plant by the Indian Medical Association,” said Koyikkal Aboobacker, member, Vadavucode- Puthenkurishu grama panchayat, where Brahmapuram is located. “Why do they set up all plants to treat the waste from the city at Brahmapuram?” he asked.
As of now, there are no plants operating in the state for treating building debris. “One such plant is successfully operating in Delhi. Concrete, which accounts for a major share of construction waste, will be crushed into granules. Iron rods, wood, etc will be segregated. Concrete granules can be used for making pavement tiles. It can also be used for other constructions as well,” a corporation official said. “The guidelines issued by the Union government allows using 20% granules in buildings,” he said.
DIGI
