Leh: Making all out efforts to establish an efficient waste management system, the union territory administration has its hopes pinned on five upcoming infrastructure projects, which are expected to give a major impetus to the realisation of its dream of making Ladakh a green region, in true sense.
Four of these five projects—three in Kagil and two in Leh—will be built at the initial cost of Rs 661 Crore, even as the Detailed Project Report of the fifth one is being prepared at the time of writing this report.
“Aiding the already existing six projects in the union territory, these five upcoming projects will give a major boost to Ladakh’s efforts at establishing an efficient solid and liquid waste management system,” a senior official from the UT administration told The Earth News.
At the centre of climate debate, Ladakh administration had a narrow escape last week when the National Green Tribunal decided not to impose environmental compensation for the UT’s mismanagement of solid and liquid waste after taking note of Ladakh’s “ground situation” and assurance from the administration regarding adequate funding and proposed measures for waste management.
Those assurances were not mere assurances and the administration has a plan ready to improve the waste management capacities of the UT with a slew of measures, including the 5 new projects, said the official.
Among the upcoming projects proposed by the administration two are in Leh including Development of Sewerage Network and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for Left out Area of Leh Town, and Landscape Master Plan and Treated WasteWater Reuse Strategy, Leh.
In Kargil, the three identified projects are Development of Sewerage Network and STP for Kargil Town; Solid Waste Management Plant Kargil; and Legacy Waste assessment and preparation of DPR for Legacy Waste Remediation of Kargil Town, the official informed The Earth News.
This scribe dived deep into the finer details of the projects and learnt that under the Development of Sewerage Network and STP for Left out Area of Leh Town, the administration is planning to build an underground drainage system and a Sewerage Treatment Plant, with the total proposed network of 126 Km.
“The STP will have a capacity of 5.5 MLD, while the Sequential Batch Reactor technology will be used for treatment,” The Earth News was informed.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 324.27 Crore and it will be completed in around 4 years, even as the UT administration will allocate Rs 324.27 Crore budget for its implementation.
The second project proposed for Leh is Landscape Master Plan and Treated WasteWater Reuse Strategy, Leh.
The final DPR and detailed designs are prepared, while tender documents are under preparation. Rs 44.67 Crore have already been allocated for project implementation, The Earth News has learnt.
In Kargil, Development of Sewerage Network and STP for Kargil Town is underway at the cost of Rs 278.61 Crore, which would be allocated this year by UT for project implementation. The project envisages Underground Drainage system, Sewerage Treatment Plant with capacity of 9.9 MLD, and a Pumping Station with the total proposed network of 55 Km.
“Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor technology will be used for Treatment and the project is estimated to complete in four years. The final DPR has been prepared, we are now awaiting Technical Sanction,” informed the official.
Kargil will also get a Solid Waste Management Plant by August 2023.
The Plant is already under construction at the cost of Rs 14.32 Crore. Spread over 2 Acres, the plant has a Dry Waste Treatment Capacity of 15 TPD and Wet Waste Treatment Capacity of 10 TPD. MRF and RDF technology is being used for treating Dry Waste and In vessel Composting for Wet Waste, while the Design capacity of Landfill Site is 24,000 cum and Design life of 5 years.
The fifth and final proposed project is Legacy Waste assessment and preparation of DPR for Legacy Waste Remediation of Kargil Town.
This project envisages identification and establishment of area under dumpsite, Conducting Waste Characterization survey of Dumpsite, Identification of pollution caused by the existing dumpsite, Preparation of DPR and EMP for Dumpsite remediation, and Providing transaction advisory services for onboarding of Implementing agency for dumpsite remediation work.
The administration has decided on a timeline of 28 weeks for the project, from preparation of DPR and onboarding implementing agencies.
“As of now, the DPR is under preparation,” the official informed.
These five new projects will enhance the efforts towards efficient waste management in Ladakh through six existing projects across Ladakh. These projects include Solid Waste Management Plant Leh MC, Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant Kargil, Sewerage Treatment Plant Leh, Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant Leh, Dumpsite remediation Leh, and Bioremediation of Legacy Waste, Leh.
It may be mentioned that the union territory of Ladakh generated more than 3900 Metric Tons of waste in the year 2022, of which it could process only 1917 MT, less than half.
