KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation is yet to find an alternative to run the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant. So far no company has submitted tenders for operating the plant. The Hiquip Technologies, which runs the plant on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Corporation (APTDC), will handover the plant to the Kochi Corporation on May 20.
Only a few companies have approached the Corporation seeking details about the tender procedures.
“No company has submitted tenders for running the plant temporarily. But five or six companies have made enquiries about the tender procedures,’’ said Nahas, executive engineer, Corporation.
The tender invited is for running the plant for two or three months.
The Corporation has also invited expression of interest for running the project on a permanent basis. The last date for submitting the expression of interest is May 30. “The Corporation will prepare a list of companies submitting expression of interest on the basis of their experience in the field and their credibility,’’ Nahas said.
Corporation employees will run the plant until a firm is entrusted with the duty of operating the plant. “Fifteen employees of the Corporation are being trained for operating the plant.
They will take care of the plant once the ATPDC hands it over to the Corporation,’’ said N A Mani, chairman, health standing committee, Kochi Corporation.
If the Corporation is training people to run the plant why is it trying to entrust the plant with some other company? The Corporation authorities say that they can run the plant but they won’t be able to sell the manure manufactured at the plant.
“That’s why we invited tenders,’’ N A Mani said.
According to the agreement between the APTDC and the Kochi Corporation, the former must build and transfer the plant after operating it for one year.
While operating the plant, the APTDC had to give training to the Corporation employees to run the plant. But the training started only last month.
Given the fact that the employees of the Corporation are yet to learn to operate the plant, it seems waste disposal in the city will go haywire in the coming days.
kochi@epmltd.com
