NDMC promises doorstep waste pickup by Dec
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachchh Bharat mission has given the much-needed push to the delayed integrated waste management system of the NDMC. Announced way back in March, the civic agency has expedited the project and claims that it will be operationalised by December.
According to the system, instead of dumping garbage in dhalaos, the agency will introduce a door-to-door solid waste collection system. Figures with NDMC state that Central Delhi has around 100 dhalaos, which the agency plans to convert into state-of-the-art public toilet utilities (PTUs).
To ensure a foolproof door-to-door garbage collection, the civic body has bought high tech garbage compactor trucks and auto tippers. Operating hydraulically, the auto tippers will automatically put garbage into the compactor machines, which would further transport all the garbage to NDMC’s Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management plant for converting it into biofuel.
“The compactor machines can carry three times the garbage that existing trucks do at present. These compactors will be transferring the garbage to the waste-to-energy plants. The entire project shall be implemented by December first week,” said Nikhil Kumar, Secretary, NDMC. Recently, the civic body bought about eight such compactors and it is now drafting a request for proposal (RFP) to arrange for 30 compactors in total.
The NDMC has also tied up with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in various colonies in its area. “House owners have been asked to dump their garbage only in the auto tippers. Throughout the day these auto tippers will take rounds in the NDMC area collecting garbage. So far, we have procured 10 such trucks and some 50 to 60 more trucks will be added,” maintained Kumar.
The solid waste management system was announced during NDMC’s Budget this year wherein it had allotted Rs 100.09 crore for public health and sanitation.
Apart from the auto tippers, 800 trolleys will also be placed in market areas and near restaurants replacing the dhalaos. “Those who will not be able to dump the garbage in the auto tippers can dump the garbage into these trolleys stationed in various areas. We have already installed 200 such trolleys in some of the markets,” said a senior official.
Removal of garbage from terminal disposal sites shall be done at night to ensure that the garbage transporting vehicles do not interfere with the regular vehicular movement on roads, said an official.