Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (MS)
Beltangady, Dec 16: If the dream of Gram Swarajya needs to be realised, villagers themselves have to come up with innovative ideas. If there is good coordination between the people representatives and the officials, there will be no dearth for progressive thoughts and projects. This is proven by the solid waste management unit of Ujire gram panchayat.
Ujire gram panchayat has more than 18,000 population and 4,500 houses. In addition, it has several educational institutions, commercial complexes and medical facilities and it developing fast as a priority city in the taluk of Beltangady. Along with the growth of Ujire, waste management is also becoming a challenge. That is why a solution for the same is found in the beginning stage itself by establishing a waste resources center.
The panchayat has 1.60 acre land at Icchila. The waste management unit function from here. The building is 4,000 square feet in area and is situated on 30 cents of land area.
The unit has rooms to segregate items like bottles, clothes, footwear, electronics and fancy. Organic manure is being produced from waste of vegetables, food and fruits. The manure is being sold at Rs eight per kg. The expected revenue from waste processing is Rs two lac and Rs eight lac from waste collection.
The waste is collected from all the wards of the panchayat. Family members are asked to segregate the waste before giving it to the waste collectors. The job of segregating the waste has become additional burden. However, by systematically managing the waste, the environment also does not get affected. Through this, Ujire gram panchayat waste management unit has become a model to other gram panchayats.
Speaking about the unit, Ramachandra Shetty, supervisor of the waste resources center said, "I am working as a supervisor for the past four years in this unit with the cooperation of administrative committee of panchayat as well as the personnel working in the unit. Citizens are still not aware of waste. It is possible to make Ujire waste-free if every civilian cooperates. We are interested. The villagers have to change the mindset."
A new building is under construction in the waste resources center with the intention of reusing plastic waste. A private individual has shown interest in the same on rental basis. The unit is expected to start working within a month. At present veterinary medical officer Dr Yathish Kumar of Neriya is functioning as the administrative officer and Prakash Shetty Noccha is working as PDO.