RMC issues trash recycle fiat

Ranchi, Oct. 14: Establishments in the capital with heavy footfall such as hostels, lodges, banquet halls, temples and the like will soon be instructed to install centralised biocomposting facilities on their premises, a move that would go a long way in managing the city's solid waste if implemented well.

Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) this evening held its first meeting at its office with representatives of lodges, banquet halls and others to apprise them of this plan, five days after Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) issued a similar fiat for the steel city.

RMC's assistant health officer Kiran Kumari said they had recently issued this directive to all hostels, lodges, banquet halls, among others, in this regard and today's meeting was the first step take everyone on board for proper implementation.

"Though we haven't sounded any specific deadline today we told them to get the units installed within two months so that we should be better prepared ahead of next year's Centre-sponsored Swachh Survekshan (survey)," she said.

"We have also invited local representatives of private companies and experts who would apprise end users on latest available technologies and procedures for sustainable biocomposting," she added.

Roughly, there are over 100 banquet halls and 300-plus lodges in Ranchi that generate tonnes of waste daily. Lack of scientific solid waste disposal compounds the problem.

Entrepreneurs who have to implement biocomposting on their premises seem on a wait-and-watch mode. A banquet hall owner at Tagore Hill Road said he was okay with the idea but it was too early to comment on its success. "I have to see if its financially viable and what incentives I get from the government," he said.

On October 9, JNAC asked steel city hotels, restaurants and housing societies to segregate waste and arrange disposal of biodegradable refuse.

Parking rap

Ranchi Municipal Corporation on Saturday accused Gnostic Solution, its hired private agency to manage parking on Ranchi Main Road, of violation of several norms, imposed on it a penalty of Rs 3.45 lakh and a showcause. The RMC letter charged the outsourced agency with charging more parking fee than what was specified, illegally towing away vehicles and not giving its staff uniforms and I-cards. The RMC has asked the agency to reply and hand over the penalty amount in two days, failing which the civic body would terminate its contract.