Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar has sought a detailed report on how much money has been spent on clearing the legacy waste till now.
While speaking to The Indian Express, Commissioner Amit Kumar said, “While reviewing the waste management in the city, I have asked the officers to submit me a detailed report on exactly how much they have spent on mining of the legacy trash. Also, I have asked various other details and have directed them to submit a report within one week.”
Almost Rs 100 crores has been spent on mining of legacy trash but the situation on the ground remains poor.
Residents of Dadumajra continue to suffer as mountain after mountain of dump continues to exist and taxpayers’ over Rs 100 crore has been spent. The mining of legacy waste has missed several deadlines as well. And by the time previous trash is being cleared, a new mountain of dump will come up as no proper processing takes place.
In 2019, before the Lok Sabha election that year, it was announced that the administration will get rid of the dump at the Dadumajra dumping ground as the project of legacy mining will help clear 10 lakh metric tonnes of waste. During inauguration of the project, officials of the civic body had promised to clear the land soon and turn it into a recreational spot for residents.
However, after the fanfare died down and the Lok Sabha polls were over, it was announced that this Rs 34 crore is for clearing only that trash which is just half of the entire dump. It was said that the civic body will only clear half the waste that was dumped in Dadumajra prior to 2008, that is the Rs 34 crore amount allotted to the project will only take care of half the waste present. Waste amounting to around 5 lakh metric tonnes dumped after 2008 was not included in the ‘mega project’- tender of which was awarded afresh and given for Rs 68 crore more.
Again before the Lok Sabha polls this year, another key promise was made which was getting a new agency to run the sole waste processing plant. And, it was to involve Rs 400 crore funds to get a company that runs the plant — which JP was doing prior to 2020. It was said that it will require two years of execution and would be given for 15 years.
However, in a public hearing held a few months ago, upset residents of Dadumajra clearly specified that “they don’t need the plant” and rather these hefty funds be given to residents to shift their homes from there.
The residents had stated that they were living in bad conditions, with most of them suffering from skin and lung problems because of the dump.