Mangalore: In Pachanady, waste of MCC limits is being dumped in and around 70 acres of land, in which 35 acres includes a landfill, where wastage is being dumped from past 30 years.
The waste management problem began in Port City a couple of years ago. However, it got intensified when the people near the only solid waste management plant of Mangalore City Corporation at Pachanady, near Vamanjoor could not bear the foul smell of waste and started protesting.
Now, though the MCC doesn’t have any magic solution to the problem, it has succeeded in managing the situation with the help of a private firm.
In Pachanady, waste of MCC limits is being dumped in and around 70 acres of land, in which 35 acres includes a landfill, where wastage is being dumped from past 30 years.
After severe protests by public, the MCC has capped the old dumping area with red sand to lessen the foul smell and the plan has yielded results.
For the remaining land, in July, 2013, the Mangalore City Corporation gave operation and maintenance contract to IL & FS Environment Infrastructure and Services Limited for six years (+2).
240 tonnes of waste per day
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Project In-charge D Rajeev Joseph said: “When we took charge in last July, the huge amount of wastage dumped from decades was a real challenge for us.
However, now we have almost completed sand capping. This has decreased the smell to considerable-level and it makes the land useful within few years. When waste transporting vehicles pass through the road, it naturally emanates foul smell, but we have fixed time for that too.”
“We receive around 230 to 240 tonnes of waste everyday and the weight increases by 30 tonnes during rainy seasons.
The main reason for the foul smell was chicken and mutton waste. Now we are following a scientific system to manage the waste.
As a first step, non-veg wastage will be separated by a break-open method (manual method). Semi finished materials will be kept for 45 days and later biodegradable and non-biodegradable things will be separated using pre-processing machinery.
Biodegradable things are used for compost, while non-biodegradable things are compressed and stored for sale,” Rajeev said.
People feel ok, still…
The localites of Pachanady and nearby areas feel that the problem of foul smell and leach of wastage has been drastically decreased.
“Compared to last year, the leach which was flowing to stream at Toyipakal has been decreased, however it has not been stopped.
As they put sand on the waste, we can tolerate smell this time. However, many places including Mandara still get contaminated water.
Poor UGD facility may also be the reason,” said Thiruvail ward Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike President Bennett G Ammanna to Deccan Herald.
Replying to this, Rajeev Joseph claimed that open wells can not be contaminated by the Waste Management Plant. “Concrete bags are used here to manage non-degradable wastage.
Waste processing is done over laterite rocks, so leach can’t flow into wells. The entire area is clean. However, there are few old dumping areas.
MCC should find a solution to them and hope they are already doing.
If they start collecting bio-degradable and non-biodegradable wastes separately, the whole process becomes easier,” he said.
