City's waste management to cost 7,000 crore

The State budget presented on Friday tries to find a solution to a major problem solid waste management, including dumping plaguing the city for long at a cost of nearly 27,000 crore.

The government will accord sanction for the comprehensive solid waste management project for the Greater Chennai Corporation shortly, said Deputy Chief Minister 0. Panneerselvam, in the budget speech.
Administrative sanction has already been accorded for collection and transportation of solid waste in eight zones in two packages at a cost of 21,546.04 crore, he said.

According to civic body officials, this will be part of the move to privatise conservancy operations in all the eight zones in the added areas of the city. The new system would be based on performance indicators. The private operators are yet to be identified, the officials said. The project is hanging fire as the corporation workers are opposed to further privatisation of conservancy work. At present, conservancy work in three zones have been privatised.