Ambala generates wealth from waste

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, January 21

The Ambala Municipal Corporation has adopted a strategy to generate revenue from the waste generated in Ambala City and Sadar Zone.

As per the information, the corporation is selling its segregated (wet and dry) waste to two firms, currently on trial basis, which is not only helping in disposing of solid waste scientifically but also generating revenue for the corporation.

Ambala generates over 300 tonne of waste every day.

Satyender Duhan, Commissioner, Ambala Municipal Corporation, said, “It is a scheme for disposal of solid waste and rehabilitation of rag pickers. Every city is struggling in handling the solid waste and its final disposal. A futuristic plan has been chalked out to generate around Rs 8 to 10 lakh per month revenue for the corporation. Waste is not waste now, it is a resource which is earning for the corporation.”

“The MC has signed a pact with a local manure firm, which is purchasing the wet waste for 25 paisa per kg and turns it into manure. The corporation is generating Rs 4 to 5 lakh per month by selling wet waste. If the farmers show interest the corporation could make efforts to provide that manure on subsidised rates. Similarly, in order to dispose dry waste, a tie up has been done with a Patiala-based firm. Efforts are being made to generate nearly the same amount from the dry waste too. The dry waste is likely to fetch Rs 2 to 5 per kg, as per their category,” he added.

The commissioner said, “Besides, the integration process of ragpickers has been started and the corporation has also identified nearly 250 ragpickers in Ambala. Identity cards have been issued to them and now the ragpickers are being motivated to pick segregated waste and sell them to specific vendors only so that they could also earn better.”

“So far the MC used to pay to people to dispose of the waste but now the people would pay to purchase the waste as it is in the segregated form. The trial run is on and it would be completed by February 14. Then it will be implemented on a larger scale and bids would be called so that more revenue could be generated,” he added.