The Kochi Corporation is looking into the possibilities of introducing a decentralised system for better sanitation in the city. The civic body will soon request the State Government to provide the financial assistance for the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) for the decentralised sanitation system.
The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held between the Corporation officials and the representatives of Deutsche Gesellschaft Internationale Zusammenarbeit (giz) at Mayor Tony Chammany’s Chamber on Thursday. The German agency, giz, is currently supporting five cities in the country, including Kochi, in the preparation of City Sanitation Plans (CSPs) under the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP).
“We hope that the State will extend their financial support to complete the DPR preparation by 2014. Once the DPR is ready, we plan to include the decentralised sanitation projects in the list of proposals for the second phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM),” said the Mayor. At the meeting, giz senior advisor (Sustainable Urban Habitat) Regina Dube said that centralised sewage and solid waste management systems are more capital-intensive and time-consuming in implementation. “Compared to the centralised system, including setting up Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), decentralised systems are more efficient and cost-effective,” she said.
The agency has already launched two pilot projects at two divisions in Kochi and has prepared a CSP for the city. Giz, has also prepared CSPs for Nashik, Shimla, Raipur and Tirupathy.
“Based on the feedback of the civic administrators from the five cities, we will submit a report to the Union Ministry of Urban Development by next month and will start the second phase of the City Sanitation Plan,” she said.
The main aim of drafting the CSP is to launch short, medium and long-term plans for effective sanitation. As part of the bilateral collaboration between India and Germany, the German agency will provide technical support for implementing the plan.
“We will not provide financial assistance to the cities. Based on priorities identified in the plan, the respective local bodies, in consultation with Government should coordinate the preparation of DPRs to implement the project,” Dube said.