Rs7 billion landfill facility project gets Shahbaz’s approval

[Salman]

Rs7 billion landfill facility project gets Shahbaz’s approval

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has given a green signal for construction of integrated landfill facility at Lakhoder village in a meeting with LWMC Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan and MD Waseem Ajmal Ch.



The LWMC has been working on this project from last one year. Out of different proposed sites, the site at Lakhoder village was selected keeping in view the environmental hazards attached with waste disposal facility. Environmental Impact Assessment of the site has already been conducted and No Objection Certificate was obtained from Environmental Protection Department. The process of acquisition of land has been started and 140 acres land will be handed over to the LWMC by July 10 2012 for construction of integrated landfill facility.



The disposal facility will be constructed by the LWMC. The technical support in this regard is being provided by the ISTAC (Municipality of Istanbul). According the timeline, the design, technical drawings, financial feasibility, bidding documents etc. will be prepared by December 2012 with the help of ISTAC. The construction of landfill facility will then be outsourced through international competitive bidding process.



According to one estimate, the cost of disposal facility will be Rs 7 billion. However during the first year, Rs 1.5 billion will be required. The rest of the amount will be incurred in incremental manner. The LWMC has envisaged that about 2500 tons of waste will be handled on daily basis on this facility. However, it is expected that with the passage of time, the amount of waste will be diverted to other technologically advance options like Composting, RDF, Waste to Energy, incineration etc.