STATUS OF PROJECTS

INSTALLATION OF STATIC COMPACTORS HANGS FIRE: Since 2016, when the first static compactor site was established in the Dugri area, the MC and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) have been working on installing these to avoid open dumping of garbage. A static compactor is used for on-site compression of waste material. The MC’s project to install compactors at 22 sites has remained only on paper, the LIT has established six static compactors sites, of total eight, but those have also not been made operational, with vehicles to lift waste from compactor sites not brought yet. The LIT had commenced construction at its sites in May 2019.

The MC is falling short of money for solid waste management due to which the project to install static compactors has been shifted under smart city mission.

LEGACY WASTE A TICKING FIREBOMB: The city’s main dump site on Tajpur road, spewing toxic gases amid over 20 lakh ton of garbage, dumped on 45 acre over four decades, is a tinderbox. The landfill generates highly combustible methane that leads to spontaneous fires, causing burning of garbage and highly toxic emissions. This leads to widespread air pollution, with serious health implications. On an average, the city generates over 1000 ton of garbage daily. This waste was being processed at the Refuse Derived fuel plant and compost plant till August 26 by A2Z company, the plants have halted work, as the PPCB has denied approval for the plant, citing certain violations. The daily waste is now being accumulated at the main dump site. The company has written to the MC seeking its intervention.

A proposal to avail a loan of Rs 150 crore for dealing with the legacy waste was on the MC’s budget, but no decision was taken. The MC has, however, sent a sample of the legacy waste for testing before treating it.