Biomining plan lacks clarity

Kochi: Even while Kochi corporation is all set to award the biomining of legacy waste at Brahmapuram to a new firm, the request for proposal (RFP) prepared by the local body has failed to set a direction to address certain key issues. The corporation will award the work to a Pune-based firm once the council to be held on Wednesday gives its nod for it.
In the RFP documents, the corporation has stated that there are approximately seven lakh tonnes of waste piled up on the solid waste treatment plant premises at Brahmapuram.The corporation hasn’t done a survey to assess the actual quantity of waste.
When Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation prepared an RFP for biomining of the legacy waste at Brahmapuram in 2021, the agency had pegged the estimated quantity of waste at 1 lakh tonnes.
After awarding the work to Zonta Infratech, the corporation entrusted NIT Calicut with the task of conducting a survey to assess the quantity of waste. The NIT found 5.5 lakh tonnes of legacy waste had to be cleared.
When the biomining deal with Zonta Infratech sparked controversy, the corporation and the state government argued that the private firm was supposed to complete the work in nine months. But Zonta, claiming that the quantity of waste has increased to 5.5 lakh tonnes, said it needs 18 months to clear it.
“The corporation is committing the same mistake now. Lack of accuracy in such matters will eventually help the agencies which would undertake the work,” opposition leader Antony Kureethra said.
At the same time, the corporation authorities say they would soon conduct a survey to assess the exact quantity of waste. “If the survey is done before awarding the work, it will not be acceptable to the firm which would be undertaking the work,” said mayor M Anilkumar.
Opposition councillors ask how the corporation has arrived at the seven lakh figure without conducting a proper survey.