The National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT-C) is expected to shortly submit its report on the volume of legacy waste that remains to be biomined at the Kochi Corporation’s dumping yard in Brahmapuram.
“The agency has already conducted a drone survey for the purpose, and the report may be forthcoming as early as this week,” said Mayor V.K. Minimol. This is the second time that the NIT-C has been approached with a similar task. On its earlier assessment, it had found an additional 1.46 lakh tonnes of legacy waste over and above the 7 lakh tonnes initially calculated for biomining.
The United Democratic Front-led Corporation council had, just before the notification of the Assembly elections, had granted Bhumi Green Energy an extension of eight to nine months to complete biomining of the remaining legacy waste, estimated at around 3 lakh tonnes by Corporation officials. “We managed to bring down the per-tonne rate of biomining by ₹18 from the previously fixed ₹1,690 through intense negotiations, thereby saving the Corporation around ₹60 lakh. The company insisted on a higher rate, but we argued that they already had the equipment at the site and had secured works on account of executing the Corporation’s biomining project,” Ms. Minimol said.
