Rajkot: Tonnes of garbage that the Rajkot city generates, over 500 tonne per day, is being piled at Nakrawadi village since last two years as the waste-to-energy power plant proposed is yet to see light of the day. What remains on the ground are a number of iron pillars erected one year ago. The firm contracted to set up the plant has stopped all activities without notifying the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC).
The RMC has now issued a show-cause notice to the company - Strot Energy-Rochem Separation Systems - contracted in 2014 to build and operate the plant.
"Since there has been no progress on the waste-to-energy plant at the site we have issued a notice to the company. We do not want to lose more time. If the firm is not willing to finish the project, we need to find an alternative," said RMC commissioner, BanchanidhiPani.
RMC has asked the firm to respond in 30 days and explain the delay. It has warned to initiate process to terminate the agreement considering it as an 'event of default' if the firm fails to explain the delay in work in the given time. The company was issued work order in September 2014 and RMC had allotted it 10 acre land at Nakrawadi to set up the plant.
According to RMC officials, the proposed plant with capacity of processing 1.3 lakh tonne of solid waste and generation of 4MW of power, using pyrolysis gasification technology, was to commence operations from August this year. However, on ground, there has been no progress, said RMC sources.
As a result, solid waste is being piled up at the dumping site near Nakrawadi, about 7km from Rajkot. The local villagers too had raised their concerns over environmental damage like air and ground water pollution due to non-processing of solid waste.
"As per the agreement, you (Strot Energy-Rochem Separation Systems) were supposed to complete the construction work to set up solid waste processing plant and start solid waste processing at the site. RMC has given land on lease for the purpose and agreements. You had told us that you would start accepting solid waste from August (2016) for processing it but there has been no progress on site," RMC's notice to the company stated.
Environmentalist ShailendrasinhJadeja said, "This was expected from day one when RMC awarded the contract to a firm that has no experience in processing solid waste." He alleged that the civic body was adopting 'trial and error' method to resolve the issue that is very crucial for urban areas."
"Hundreds of villagers are facing problems due to the mounting solid waste dump. This attitude of government will lead nowhere if we really want 'Swachh Bharat'," said Jadeja.
