'Rs 55 crore for biomining waste extraordinarily high’

KOCHI: A consortium led by Zonta Infratech Pvt Ltd has quoted Rs 54.90 crore for biomining the legacy waste — an estimated volume of one lakh cubic metres — at Brahmapuram, but this amount is extraordinarily high according to experts.
“I haven’t seen such a huge estimate anywhere in India. Either the quantification or the estimate is wrong since the per tonne rate for biomining is in the range of Rs 700 to Rs 800 and may go up to Rs 1,000 in extraordinary cases.Cost for biomining 80,000 tonnes of legacy waste should not cost more than Rs 10 crore,” said founder and director of Eco Pro Environmental Services Asad Warsi.
Warsi acted as a consultant for Indore city helping them flatten 15 lakh metric tonnes of waste at a cost of Rs 10 crore in 2018. Warsi also assisted Ahmedabad in a similar exercise.
One lakh cubic metre of waste is considered equivalent to 80,000 tonnes, considering the density of legacy waste as 0.8 metric ton/cubic metre. The consortium led by Zonta Infratech Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru and Bauer GmbH had submitted a financial bid with a total cost of 54,90,36,036 for clearing the legacy waste.
Kochi mayor M Anilkumar said he had told officials that the cost seems to be very high and a break-up of cost incurred while biomining waste in cities like Kozhikode needs to be examined. “We have decided to entrust the quantification of the waste with NIT, Kozhikode. Though the financial bid has been awarded to Zonta, which was the lone bidder, when the work order is given, we would be paying as per our assessment of the quantum of waste,” said Anilkumar. State government has denied a request made by the Kochi corporation to fund the biomining and the local body, which is neck deep in debt and facing recovery proceedings, would struggle to find the funds for biomining.
NGT calls for Action Taken Report by April 5
Kochi:
The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) hearing the original petition on non-compliance of Solid Waste Management Rules (2016) at Brahmapuram, while transferring the case to the southern bench, has called for an Action Taken Report before April 5, when the case would be next heard.
Stating that there is no meaningful action for complying with the SWM Rules and handling of solid waste in spite of repeated directives in the past two years, it said PCB reports show that parameters of environment are not being met and the municipal corporation is still continuing unauthorized operations.
“Work is yet to start for biomining. Compensation has been assessed but not recovered. Windrow composting plant is in dilapidated condition. The affidavit of the chief secretary does not show that any effective action has been taken on the ground,” the tribunal noted, wondering whether the officers dealing with the matter lack competence.
“It is unfortunate that in spite of several orders of this tribunal for the past two years the officers concerned have only paid lip service to the issue. There is thus a clear governance deficit which needs to be urgently remedied at the appropriate highest level in the state,” the tribunal said in the order adding that unless prompt action is taken it may have to adopt coercive measures as per law, including prosecution of officials concerned.
“Least expected is placing of order for execution of legacy waste biomining, landscaping of the area and plantation, development of biodiversity park, rectification of the compost plant, continuous monitoring by the secretary, urban development and quarterly review by the chief secretary,” the NGT directive said.