Noida Sector 15A gets compost machine

For efficient waste management, the Noida Authority installed a fully automatic compost machine in Sector 15A at the cost of Rs 23.65 lakh. This is part of the Authority's plan to install compost machines in 25 residential sectors of the city in the first phase. More such machines will be provided to the RWAs in other sectors as well.

Mahesh Sharma, Union minister of state for tourism and culture and the local MLA was the chief guest at the event.

The director of horticulture of Noida Authority, Omvir Singh, said that decision to give compost machines was taken in the board meeting in June 2017. It was decided that the Authority will sponsor 75 per cent cost of the compost machine and 25 per cent will be paid by the residents of the area. If a compost machine, capable of disposing of 500 kg of green waste per day, costs Rs 6 lakh, then the residents will have to pay only Rs 1.5 lakh in order to get it installed in their area. The RWA of Sector 15A paid only 25 per cent of Rs 23.65 lakh, which is Rs 5.91 lakh. The remaining amount was paid by the Authority.

According to the Solid Waste Management Policy 2016, all residential sectors, gated housing societies, hotels and commercial institutions will have to make arrangements to segregate biodegradable waste and make compost of it on their own premises.

"The RWAs will also be assigned with the responsibility of maintaining parks in the sectors and they will be given a contract for the same. They would be asked to use the manure for nurturing plants and the grass present in the parks," Singh said.

Rajesh Khanna, general secretary of the Sector 15A RWA said, "Our sector generates 700-800 kg of waste every day. After the installation of the machine, we will generate manure from this waste and use it for nurturing plants and the grass present in the parks. If any resident needs the manure, we will also give them too."

"Many other areas of the city including sectors 19, 47, 35 and 82 have also demanded compost machines. The gated societies like Prateek Wisteria in Sector 77, Homes 121 in Sector 121 and Eldeco Aamantran in Sector 119 have also demanded the same," Singh said.

2017 DECISION

• The director of horticulture of Noida Authority, Omvir Singh, said that the decision to give compost machines was taken in the board meeting in June 2017
   
• It was decided that the Authority will sponsor 75 per cent cost of the compost machine and 25 per cent will be paid by the residents of the area