Centre has Rs 300 crore plan to tackle Delhi’s garbage crisis

New Delhi: After the collapse of the Ghazipur landfill site in which two people were killed and several vehicles washed away last month, the Union housing and urban affairs ministry has announced a Rs 300 crore action plan for the BJP-led three municipal corporations to improve the solid waste management in the national capital. According to the ministry, North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations will spend Rs 100 crore each on procuring a total of 549 units of modern equipment for solid waste management. An assistance of Rs 80 crore will be provided to each MCD from the Urban Development Fund. All equipment, including treatment plants, will be procured and commissioned by the end of this year. 

Minister of state Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday that the initiative will be supported by the ministry from the “Urban Development Fund” operated by the DDA. The minister informed that under the plan, automated machinery, equipment and other systems will be procured for better collection, transport and storage of garbage. 

Soon after assuming office, the minister had raised the issue of garbage problem in the national capital. At present, Delhi treats 5,100 metric tonnes of solid waste every day, out of which only 200 metric tonnes is treated thro-ugh composting while the rest 4,900 is treated through incineration.

This initiative will quickly add a waste treatment capacity of 670 metric tons of bio-degr-adable waste besides preventing release of foul gases, smell and proliferation of germs, pathogens and pests.