Aurangabad: Amid uncertainty on tendering for centralised waste processing units at Chikalthana, Padegaon, Harsul Sawangi the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has bought in two sets of processing machines for decentralised processing with capacity of 16 tonnes per day (TPD). The machines will become operational in a week, said Nandkishore Bhombe, head of solid waste management (SWM) cell of AMC.Amid objections to awarding the contract to an agency to operate the centralised processing units, the standing committee on Wednesday passed a resolution granting the contract to Waluj-based Mayo Vessels & Machines.Earlier, reports indicated that this agency was blacklisted in Amravati. That had raised some doubt about the possibility of the firm bagging the contract. However, the SWM cell head Bhombe said the agency was blacklisted for its work in slaughter-house maintenance, not waste management.Nandkishore Bhombe said the civil construction work for the centralised processing plant at Padegaon had been initiated in consultation with Mayo Vessels & Machines. He said the setting up of the centralised processing plants will take another six months.The two sets of machines which the AMC has purchased after the tendering are meant for decentralised processing. Each set includes a shredding machine, a bailing machine and a screening machine.Mohiuddin Kazi, head of the vigilance department at AMC, is overseeing the procurement and the setting up of the machines. Kazi said each set of machines has a capacity to process 16 tonnes of waste a day. The shredding machine will be used to break down organic waste into smaller pieces, expediting compost formation. The baling machine will be used to make bales of dry waste to reduce waste volume, making it convenient and cheaper to transport. The screening machine will be used to separate bigger particles from compost, Kazi said.Two sets of these machines have arrived, and another is expected in a week. As listed in the contract, the operation and maintenance is the responsibility of the manufacturer for a period of 10 years. A total of nine sets have been ordered by AMC for decentralised processing in nine zones, Kazi said. However, temporarily, the machines will be set up to process waste at Chikalthana, Harsul Sawangi and Padegaon.

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