KOCHI: Overruling the Kochi Corporation, the State government has entrusted implementation of the local body’s Brahmapuram waste to energy plant with the district collector. As per a government order issued on February 20, the collector will be responsible for implementing the project and has been asked to initiate immediate measures to demarcate and handover the land to GJ Eco Power Limited, the company setting up the plant. The State government has also decided to constitute a State Level Advisory Committee for monitoring the process of implementation of solid waste management projects in the state.
The collector has been asked to coordinate the project using the powers of the Revenue Department and that of the District Magistrate since coordination of various government departments is required for execution. All implementing officers of the project shall refer issues in execution to the district collector who has to submit a report on the progress of implementation every two weeks to the Local Self-Government Department. With the handing over of land, GJ Eco Power Limited will be able to complete the procedures and start work within two or three months.
Meanwhile, responding to the government’s decision, Mayor Soumini Jain told DC that the civic body’s powers or stake in the plant would not be hampered by the move. “The Corporation is inviting tenders and implementing the project. The collector’s role will be to act as a link between the government departments and the local body. He will be responsible for getting clearances from various agencies and to speed up the project implementation. The government has taken the decision in consultation with the Corporation,” she added.
As per the current detailed project report, the plant will be set up at a cost of Rs. 375 crore and GJ Eco Power Limited will run it for 15 years. As per the initial feasibility study, 500 units of electricity can be generated from one tonne of garbage. With a capacity of treating 300 tonnes of waste, the plant can generate 5 to 6 MW of electricity per day.
