Thaindian News

Agra, Dec 28 (IANS) The Agra Municipal Corporation has embarked on a new project with a private player to collect domestic garbage from each house in the city.The corporation has collaborated to operate a network to lift and transfer municipal waste and domestic garbage from the source, and process it into an alternative energy source.

“An agreement between the corporation, Ultra Urban Infrateck Ltd and Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam has been signed. The Kuberpur solid waste management plant will become functional soon,” Municipal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey told IANS.

Door to door collection of garbage will be funded by levying user charges which will be collected by the private company. The firm will have to lift and transport at least 80 percent of the municipal garbage daily, failing which a penalty would be imposed, officials said.

According to an estimate, the city generates around 750 tonnes of domestic garbage daily. The corporation has already worked out a deal with the manufacturers of ‘petha’ sweetmeat in the city for disposal of their waste material for a fee.

Similar arrangements are being worked out with other major polluters.

“The catch is whether the residents of the city would agree to pay a user charge to the company. Many are already questioning the motives of the corporation which collects house tax and various other levies from the citizens,” comments social activist Ravi Singh.

The corporation has, meanwhile, continued with its anti-polythene drive, confiscating several quintals of plastic bags each day over the past fortnight.

“Now both the retailers and consumers are coming forward to support the ban. This will make a significant difference to the level of cleanliness in the city in the coming days. We have no intention of easing pressure, but will begin fining those found using polythene,” Municipal Commissioner Pandey said.