Gamdevi residents propose a win-win project to BMC
Ask for empty plot for vermiculture that could lessen BMC's work load
Residents of Gamdevi have proposed a vermiculture project for an
idling plot in the area that will not only be a source of
income, but will also lessen the BMC's workload. And undoubtedly, the
BMC has welcomed the project.
Three passages on Gamdevi Estate Scheme No 4, measuring 500 feet by 15
feet, have been lying idle for many years with the BMC's D ward. The
Kashibai Navrange Residents Association has demanded ownership of the
passages for a vermiculture project that could generate six tons of
manure from the wet waste generated from the 1,000 flats in the area,
valuing to Rs 54,000 of income per month.
"There are 75 buildings in the area with a population of 4,000
that generates at least 500 kgs of waste on a daily basis. So, each
passage gets 12 tons per month and if we convert this stock into
vermiculture, it comes to 3 tones per month. This could be sold at
least at Rs 6 per kg, the BMC approved rate," Dr Jayant Sathe
explains. "The passages could generate Rs 54,000 and lots of
employment indirectly," he adds.
Labourers during the British era used these passages for carrying
headloads of human excreta to dump them in the allotted area, in the
absence of a proper underground drainage system till the 1940s.
"Since the drainage system came into existence, the passages have
been breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other social nuisances like
illegal parking and garbage dumping," said Dr Sathe, president of
KNRA. He said the association has submitted the full proof plan to BMC
and nod from the authority is awaited. The proposal also fits into the
BMC's Wet and Dry Garbage Recycling Scheme and has received a positive
response.
"We have inspected the passages and are positive about the scheme
as the project promotes BMC's vermiculture promoting policies and will
save our manpower. We will be able to provide vehicles for collecting
the wet garbage from house to house," said Rajendra Narvankar,
assistant engineer (Environment), D ward.
The passages are currently used for parking cars and dumping debris
generated from construction work in the surrounding buildings. As per
the proposal, 50 pits of size 3 feet by 10 feet could be installed in
each passage to produce the vermiculture.
Publication: DNA; Date:Mar 13, 2006; Section:Zone;
Page Number:8
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