Madurai Corporation will invest Rs. 6 crores in a new plant to process construction and demolition waste, a significant step towards sustainable waste management. The plant, to be set up at Vellaikal, will process 100 tonnes of waste daily. In addition, four debris collection centres will be established citywide. The project, designed to operate under a public-private partnership, aims to curb construction waste dumping, improve the urban environment, and generate revenue for the corporation. Construction will commence following the submission of a detailed project report by the contractor.
In an ambitious move towards sustainable waste management, Madurai Corporation has announced plans to establish a construction and demolition waste processing plant. The plant, aimed at curbing rampant construction waste dumping in various parts of the city, is to be set up at the Vellaikal dumping yard with an estimated investment of Rs. 6 crore.
This forward-thinking venture is designed to handle a capacity of 100 tonnes of waste per day. In addition to the plant, four debris collection centres will be established across Vellaikal, Kochadai, Palathotam, and Gatelock road.
The project is slated to operate under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, following a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) basis.
Madurai's roads, notably along the Vaigai riverbank, have been plagued with construction waste, contributing significantly to dust pollution. In addition to roads, local activists like Abu Backer have observed construction waste encroaching into water bodies such as the Sellur tank. Such unregulated waste disposal threatens the loss of the tank area and disrupts the city's natural ecosystem.
To counter this, Madurai Corporation has initiated a drive to remove such debris, imposing penalties up to Rs. 10,000 on builders found guilty of illegal waste disposal. As for the waste processing plant, a senior corporation official explained that collected waste would be converted into sand at the Vellaikal processing centre for manufacturing paver blocks. The processed material could also be used for road construction within the corporation's jurisdiction and potentially for filling landfills.
"Should the sand surplus exceed the corporation's requirements, it will be sold in the market," the official added. This innovative approach to construction waste management is expected not only to address the waste disposal challenge but also generate revenue for the corporation.
The tender for constructing the plant has been floated, with work set to begin following the submission of a detailed project report by the contractor, stated the senior corporation official.
In conclusion, Madurai Corporation's decision to establish a construction waste processing plant is a significant step towards sustainable urban waste management. This initiative is expected to address the city's persistent construction waste problem, enhance the urban environment, and even create a new revenue stream for the corporation. The plan underscores the corporation's commitment to promoting responsible waste disposal and sustainable urban development.
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