GOI Signs Policy on Promotion of City Compost – Mayor
Mangaluru: MCC Mayor Harinath held a press meet regarding the Policy on Promotion of City Compost at his chamber, here on May 10.
Addressing the mediapersons Mayor Harinath said that the Director of Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers, Government of India has given approval to the Mangaluru City Corporation for the Promotion of City Compost under Swacch Bharat project. Under this policy, the market development assistance in the form of fixed amount of Rs 1500 per ton of the City Compost will be provided for scaling up production and consumption of the product.
Initially, marketing and promotion of the city compost will be done through the existing fertilizer companies. In due course, compost manufacturers and other marketing entities recognized by the concerned State Government may also be included for the purpose with the approval of Department of Fertilisers. The market development assistance shall be routed through the entity which is marketing it.
The Fertilizer marketing companies shall be eligible for on account payment, Up to 50% only on the basis of first point sale (to the dealer/retailer) at the district level. The balance shall be released on receipt of the retailer’s acknowledgment in MFMS as well as the issue of required certificates relating to quantity and quality issued by the respective State Governments in prescribed forms. In the case of other marketing entities including compost manufacturers, if they are involved in promotion and sale of city compost and are duly recognized by concerned State Governments, the modalities for the release of subsidy to them may be decided by the Department of Fertilizers.
Fertilizer companies and marketing entities will also co-market City Compost with chemical fertilizers through their dealers’ network. The mechanism, extent and mode of implementation of such co-marketing depending on levels of compost production, demand generation and other relevant factors shall be decided by the Department of Fertilizers. The provision of Market Development Assistance as proposed in para (i) to (iii) above, shall, however, not be linked to the issue of co-marketing mentioned above. The companies will also adopt villages for promoting the use of compost
Government Departments and Public Sector undertakings will also use City Compost to the extent possible for the horticulture and related use. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare will carry out IEC campaigns to educate farmers on the benefits of city compost. The Agricultural Extension Machineries including KVKs of ICAR will also make special efforts in this regard. Agriculture Universities and KVKs will also take up field demonstration activities to the extent possible using City compost to make it popular amongst the farmers. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare will assign targets to the KVKs in this regard.
Ministry of Urban Development will take steps to increase setting up of compost plants across all States. An appropriate BIS standard/ Eco-Mark will also be developed in consultation with BIS for enabling better market acceptance. It shall be branded appropriately in a way that reflects clearly that particular initiative is part of Swachh Bharat Mission. A joint mechanism will be set up by the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Urban Development and Department of Agriculture to monitor and facilitate the availability of adequate quantity of City Compost at terms mutually agreeable between compost manufacturers and Fertilizer Marketing companies. They will also be authorized to resolve any coordination related issue that may arise.
The expenditure towards market development assistance for scaling up production and consumption of City Compost will be met out from the budget provisions for Department of Fertilisers. The policy will be effective from the date of issue of the official memorandum.
Speaking to the mediapersons Commissioner of MCC Dr Gopalkrishna said that we are producing compost from 2012 but the production was very less. From November 2014, we are producing 400 tons of compost every month. Till date we have produced 3420 metric tons of compost and the company is paying Rs 1.56 lakh per month. So far we have sold 2200 tons and the rest will be sold. At present Urea is being sold under the banner of Mangala Urea at MCF.
When asked about the present water crisis Harinath said that not only water there is a power problem too. We have to take necessary measures to provide water to the people. We are providing water once in 5 days. We have also visited the Kudremukh Lakya Dam and there is enough drinking water available there. We have requested the KIOCL authorities to provide us 2 MGD of water so that the people of Suratkal area will get water. We are waiting for permission from the MD to share water from Lakya dam. In this regard, we have submitted a memorandum to the MD seeking permission to share water from the Lakya dam.
Shashidhar Hegde, Engineer Madhu, and others were also present.
