DCC plans to set up waste management department

The proposed department will be comprised of transport, mechanical, conservancy and store departments, said DCC Chief Conservancy Officer Sohel Faruquee during a presentation at an inter-ministerial/municipal steering committee meeting at the Nagar Bhaban in the city yesterday.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) presented a draft of the Master Plan on Solid Waste Management, outlining Jica/DCC's objective to improve solid waste management "based on social acceptability and technical capacity in order to achieve a 'Clean Dhaka' by the year 2015."

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The DCC and Jica also revealed that the cost of solid waste management plan for operation and maintenance has been estimated at Tk 893.6 crore while the current revenue earning capability stands at Tk 18 crore.

To cover the cost, Sohel Faruqee proposed two possible solutions -- an increase in conservancy tax from two percent to seven percent and the other suggestion, currently underway, is collaboration with foreign investors and stakeholders.

Chaired by DCC's Acting Chief Executive Officer Alamgir Hossain Khan, the meeting was attended by Jica study team leader Dr Katsuhhide Nagayama, Jica advisory committee Chairman Mitsuo Yosida and representatives from LGRD ministry, External Relations Division (ERD) and the Rajuk.