Biomining unit yields good results

Vijayawada: Efforts being made by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and Swachh Andhra Corporation to dispose of 2.50 lakh tonnes of garbage spread over 45 acres land in Ajit Singh Nagar dumping yard are giving fruitful results.

In seven months duration, 1.1 lakh tonnes of garbage has been disposed of with the mega biomining plant set up in the dumping yard. The VMC entered an MoU with Zigma Global Environ Solutions for disposing of 2.50 lakh tonnes of garbage, which is mostly plastic materials, stones and polythene covers.

Consequently, mega biomining plant was arranged in June/July 2018 and started the work of removing garbage in a scientific manner. Nagesh Prabhu, Director of Tamil Nadu-based Zigma Global Environs Solutions, told The Hans India that every day 1,000 tonnes of garbage has been removed from dumping yard site.

He said the mining plant is working 24x7 in three shifts to remove the entire garbage spread over 45 acres. He said the workers may face problems in rainy season so the efforts are on to complete the work latest by this summer. As per the agreement reached with the VMC, the work will be completed by December 2019.

Mega biomining plant segregates the garbage into soil, plastic and stones. Cement companies located in western parts of Krishna district collect the waste plastic and polythene covers from plant for usage in cement manufacturing.

Locals are collecting stones and other waste material for laying roads. Once the garbage is removed from 45 acres land, the locals will get big relief. Residents of Vambay Colony and Ajit Singh Nagar had been facing many hardships due to presence of 2.50 lakh tonnes of garbage over the last 20 years. The VMC used the 45 acres for construction of energy plant and dumping the garbage.

Due to technical reasons, the energy plant was closed for more than 10 years ago and garbage remained there for many years polluting the surrounding areas.

After many years of struggle, garbage has been removed from 15 acres of land in seven months from July 2018 to February 2019. The Zigma Global Environs has handed over 10 acres of land to the VMC after removing the garbage.

Municipal Commissioner J Nivas said biomining plant is giving fruitful results and hoped 45 acres of land will be cleaned in six months. He said the civic body is trying to keep Vijayawada clean and green.

Biomining plant manager and in-charge S Vinod said that 60 workers are working round-the-clock in three shifts to complete the work as early as possible.