Srikakulam: Vermi compost posts in district remain non-functional

Srikakulam: "We have directed MPDOs to pay salaries by selling organic manure prepared at the recycling units, some of the MPDOs doing the same and some other are not following" District Panchayat Officer (DPO) V Ravi Kumar told The Hans India.

Creation of wealth by recycling garbage has remained a dream in Srikakulam district. As part of Swachcha Bharath Mission (SBM), the Central government has allotted funds for garbage recycling under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The aim in establishing these units is to manufacture organic manure (vermin compost) from the garbage.

District Water Resources Management Agency (DWMA) is the nodal agency for implementation of MGNREGS works under the SBM in coordination with Rural Water Supply (RWS) department.

Total 615 garbage recycling units were sanctioned for Srikakulam district with a funding of Rs 18.23 crore. As per rule, after construction of these units have been handed over to the District Panchayat Department officials and RWS engineers.

At mandal-level, Mandal Parishad Development Officers (MPDO) have to supervise works at these recycling centres. For collection, separation of dry and wet garbage and maintenance of these units, green ambassadors have been appointed for each unit with a monthly salary of Rs 6,000. But garbage recycling units have remained non-fuctional at several villages in Srikakulam rural, Regidi, Narasannapeta, Amudalavalasa and other mandals.

Garbage recycling units are not working at Kanugulavanipeta, Kunduvanipeta villages in Srikakulam rural mandal. For the last several months salaries are not being paid to green ambassadors. As a result, they are not interested in collecting garbage from the houses of the locality.