The first solid waste processing-composting and sanitary landfill diposal plant in the State was inaugurated at Shishambada by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat here on Tuesday. Inaugurated about nine years after it was approved, the solid waste management facility costing about Rs 36 crore is expected to bring about considerable improvement in waste disposal and level of civic sanitation in Dehradun.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that about 350 tonnes of garbage from Dehradun city and other areas will be disposed here daily. The waste from nearby villages will also be disposed here in the future.He further said that efforts should also be made to generate six to eight mega watt electricity at this plant as is done in Delhi and other cities. Stating that presently stench from the plant is a problem, he said that some problems are generally experienced whenever a new project is started. He also directed the officials to take effective steps for addressing this issue. Generating electricity from the garbage here is one of the ways of addressing the problem of stench while effort should also be made at the plant to contribute in production of fuel. The manure prepared here will also prove helpful to farmers and encourage farming activity. He also directed officials to facilitate plantation of as many fruit trees as possible in the area around the waste management plant.The trees will help tackle noise from the facility and dust in the area, he added.
The Urban Development and Housing Minister Madan Kaushik averred that the Government is working efficiently towards ensuring proper solid waste management. This work has been started in Dehradun and similar facilities will also be started soon in Roorkee, Haridwar and Haldwani. In the coming year, solid waste management facility will be developed in 92 local bodies of the State.
He said that the State Government is attempting to ensure that even the garbage in the State does not go to waste. Measures will be taken for this through public awareness, he added.
The Dehradun mayor and Dharmpur MlA Vinod Chamoli also expressed his views on the occasion. MlAs Sahdev Singh Pundir, Khajan Das, municipal commissioner Vijay Kumar Jogdande, public representatives and officials were also present on the occasion.