The plant had been installed under the Multan Environment Conservation Project (MECP) on May 4, 2005 and was inaugurated by district nazim Mian Faisal Mukhtar.
The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) had financed $4,240,600 ($4.24 million) for extension of MECP.
The objectives of MECP were conservation of local environment by improving the municipal solid waste management, establishment of community-based SWM system and capacity building and empowerment of local communities for decision making regarding environment and waste management.
The plant was a model of community-based project. The Multan city tehsil municipal administration had provided land for the plant and to this effect signed a memorandum of understanding with NGO namely Community Development Resource Centre (CDRC).
Under the MoU, UNDP provided funding for the plant and CDRC was to operate it for 10 years. Profit was to be shared by TMA and CDRC and the latter was required to reinvest its share in community welfare works.
Deputy district officer (technical) Malik Abdul Rashid told this correspondent that a project steering committee had been constituted with representatives of communities, TMA, UNDP and CDRC to monitor the implementation.
He said the land where the plant had been installed was in possession of Wasa and the TMA acquired it on Rs120,000 per year rent. He said the TMA was responsible to pay rent only for one year, thereafter, it would be CDRC’s responsibility. He said Wasa had issued a notice to TMA for payment of rent.
District officer (SWM) Abdul Shakoor Bhutta told Dawn that being small in size, the plant could utilise only 100 ton solid waste on daily basis which was insufficient. Substandard machinery was used for the plant, that was the major cause of its failure.
“This plant cannot work further and we have issued explanation letters to UNDP and CDRC in this regard.”
When contacted, UNDP city manager Khurram Shehzad Hameed said his institution had only funded the plant and it was not their responsibility to run it.
Riaz Akhter of CDRC said the plant was not working because of non-cooperation of district government authorities. He said they had violated the agreement. They were bound to provide organic solid waste, a tractor, a loader and four workers for the plant, but they provided loader only for three weeks, he added.
“If they provide loader, tractor and workers, I can run the plant within two weeks.”
Multan with 1.8 million inhabitants is the biggest urban centre of southern Punjab and the fourth largest city of Pakistan. The city is experiencing serious difficulties in dealing with the ever-increasing waste. Solid waste generated every day stands at 1,000 ton, far exceeding the capacity of the municipal authorities to deal with it. As a result of which almost 60 per cent of the total generated solid waste remains uncollected, posing grave health and environmental hazards. —SHAKEEL AHMED