Noida: In a move to have a long term solution to the present deteriorating solid waste disposal mechanisms in the city, the Noida authority has started encouraging residents to come forward for an eco-friendly solution to the problem.

The authority is gearing up to set up a small automated garbage disposal centre at different residential sectors in the city. It has invited applications from residents to set up a centre for disposal of kitchen and trees leaves wastes in their respective sector.   

The scheme was approved in the authority’s board meeting held in June 2017. It was decided that the authority will sponsor 75 per cent cost of procuring compost machines and residents of a particular sector would be persuaded to contribute for the remaining cost of 25 per cent of the machine. 

Financial assistance for procuring compost machine: if the cost of an automated machine having capacity to dispose 500 KG green waste per day is Rs 6 lakh. The authority will give it to residents’ body on a subsidized rate of Rs 1.5 lakh. 

R K Mishra, additional chief executive officer, Noida Authority, said that residents will be allocated the financial support for procurement of compost machine on the basis of first come first serve. Initially, a total of 25 residential sectors will be selected for setting up the centre. 

He said, “We are in the process of invite tender for procurement of compost machines which will be floated shortly. But at the same time, residents should also submit application as soon as possible.” 

Though, Noida’s residents welfare associations welcomed the decision of the authority but it wanted clarification over the expenditure of converting garbage to manure. During a meeting held at Indira Gandhi Kala Kendra, in Sector-6, several residents’ bodies have urged the authority that cost of running a compost centre should be kept at an affordable rate. 

According to Vimal Sharma, president of residents’ body of sector-50, there is a minimum requirement of hiring four persons for operation of the centre and one security guard will be required to look after the centre when it is not in operation. Besides this, the RWA has to make a shed for keeping the compost machines below it. He said, “The RWA has limited source of income as it runs on contributions by individual as maintenance fee. In this given condition, the body can’t afford an expansive mechanism. The authority should make the running cost affordable to all.”    

Mishara said, “The authority is seeking residents participation for effective implementation of the scheme in the city. If residents will consider it as business of loss or profit, it won’t be successful. We can not contribute for checking the pollution. When we are going to work for saving the environment, we should think beyond the profit or loss.”    

Sushil Agarwal, patron of federation of Noida RWAs, pointed out that electricity is necessary for running the compost machine. The authority should consult to the power distribution company in Noida for providing supply on low tariff. He argued, “Converting green waste into manure is part of agriculture work. the government should charge tariff for supplying power to the compost centre aat the rate farmers are being charged in the state.”

Amit Mohan Prasad, chief executive officer of the authority, said that this is a viable option to manage the waste. He said that for making more affordable to residents, the authority will purchase the manure from the residents’ body for using them in the parks in the city. Moreover, the authority will rope some fertilizers company to buy the compost from residents’ body in case the production of the manure is more than that of the authority have been buying from private players now a day. He said, “Even if the cost for operating is not met, the authority will allow residents’ body to utilize the fund raised from renting the community centre. We will amend the law to allow residents’ body to use the fund earned from renting the community center. Currently, amount that comes from renting the community centre is deposited with Noida authority.”