HYDERABAD: The disposal of generated garbage which became problematic for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) would likely to be solved soon with chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao directing GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar for developing as many as 10 to 15 dumping yards in Hyderabad and its outskirts.
He asked GHMC and neighbouring district collectors to identify suitable waste and barren lands which can be utilised for effective disposal of garbage. Presently GHMC is finding it tough to deal with the 3,500 metric tonnes of garbage and 400 to 500 tonnes of debris that is generated everyday.
The generated garbage is presently being dumped at Jawaharnagar dumping yard which has been filled to the capacity. Residents, environmentalists and social activists have been demanding immediate relocation of Jawaharnagar dump yard as it was causing health and pollution problems for local residents for the last several years.
A few days ago, CMO officials held a review meeting with the GHMC authorities and district collectors of Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Medak and Mahboobnagar for identification of new dumping yards. The collectors have been asked to identify suitable barren and waste lands including abandoned quarries, unfit for agriculture purpose and away from human habitations.
The district collectors were asked to identify 200 to 300 acres of waste lands for each dumping yard and submit a report on the availability of waste lands at the earliest so that dumping yards can be established. The dumping yards should handle the garbage for the next 50 years.
GHMC has also sought suitable lands for establishing six additional garbage transfer stations for easy transportation of garbage from stations to the dumping yard. Earlier, Hyderabad had three dumping yards at Autonagar, Golconda and Gandhamguda but dumping has been stopped due to stiff resistance from the local residents. Apart from contaminating ground water, the consistent dumping has polluted the ground water around the areas and health issues were on the rise as garbage was not treated properly.
Apart from dumping yards, GHMC has also proposed to develop an economically viable and environmentally sustainable system for processing and recycling construction and demolition (C&D) waste under PPP mode. Around 400 to 500 tonnes of C&D waste per day (TPD) is generated in Greater Hyderabad limits.
C&D waste is generated whenever any type of construction and demolition activity takes place. The CM also instructed the new MD of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMMWS&B), M Jagdish to get Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs repaired and cleaned up for ensuring proper and safe drinking water supply to the citizens.
No Haleem Bhattis on Top Floor: GHMC
Keeping in view of the tragic collapse of the City Light hotel building last year, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) warned hoteliers not to set up Haleem Bhattis on the top floors. GHMC commissioner Somesh Kuamr, who held a review meeting with hoteliers involved in the prepartion of Haleem, directed them to set up kitchens in the ground floor and put up fire extinguishers as a precautionary measure to deal with untoward incident. “Hoteliers who set up their bhattis on the roadside and occupy footpaths will not be tolerated,” the GHMC commissioner said and urged them to properly dispose waste.