Search for dumping yard goes on for 20 years!

Kakinada: It is very strange that the authorities couldn’t find a site for dumping household and commercial waste in Kakinada smart city for the last 20 years. The search started in 1998 is still continuing, which resulted in dumping waste in vacant areas, whether they are private or government lands. 

Meanwhile, on an average the quantity of the waste has increased to 200 Mt per day. When the search was initiated two decades earlier, a three-acre land at P Venkatapuram in Kakinada rural mandal donated by Pithapuram Rajahs.

Even plans were approved to start vermin compost unit in the site segregating dry and wet waste. But at the last moment the proposal was cancelled due to the objections raised by a few residents in the neighbouring areas quoting health grounds.

The dumping in vacant lands continued and the land issue picked up momentum after Neetu Kumari Prasad assumed charge as the District Collector. Realizing the gravity of the situation, she allotted 40 acres of government land at Chendurti village in Gollaprolu mandal five years ago.

This time the farmers in that area opposed the idea and even dug the connectivity road to avoid vehicles. The officials failed to persuade them. With situation back to square one, fresh hunt was started at Chollangi in Tallarevu mandal about 12 kilometers from Kakinada.

Here a 10 acre site was allocated, but the facility was short-lived with a local people’s representative objecting by quoting that the value of the lands beside the dumping yard will be affected. Dur to the alleged influence of a TDP leader, who owns the lands there, the dumping yard has been shifted again.

The State Port department’ site about eight acres was allotted for the purpose temporarily. After attaining smart city status, a deal was stuck with a Japanese firm to generate power from the municipal waste. Three Japanese officials visited Kakinada and inspected the quality of municipal waste.

The officials of NREDCAP [New and Renewable Energy Development Corpora tin of AP], the implementing agency, were invited to Japan but unexpectedly their visit was cancelled at the last moment after obtaining visas from Japanese authorities at its Hyderabad office. No reason was quoted for the last-minute cancellation.

Later, a new proposal was emerged with a 10-acre site in Jaggayya Cheruvu in Samararla Kota about 17 kilometers from here. But this was also cancelled after Samarlakota municipal council passed a resolution rejecting the allocation of site for municipal waste dumping purpose for Kakinada civic body. Even the local MLA and deputy CM N Chinarajappa was reportedly expressed his inability to intervene into the issue.

On the other hand, residents of Parlova Peta and dairy farm centre, adjacent to the State Port areas, which is being used as dumping yard, objected the utilization of the areas, stating that the entire vicinity was turned as a mosquito breeding ground and causing health problems to the residents. They even opted for road blockade. Kakinada Mayor S Pavani persuaded them that they are in search of another place and assured to shift the same at the earliest.

When contacted, Kakinada Mayor Sunkara Pavani said that they are on the lookout for a new place for dump yard, as the site in Samarlakota also not available due to the municipal council resolution recently.