Patna: A garbage transfer station being built at Yarpur under New Capital Circle of Patna Municipal Corporation has remained incomplete more than a year after its scheduled completion date, prolonging a waste-management problem that has also emerged as a concern for flight operations at Patna airport.The Rs 11.44-crore project was scheduled to be completed by August last year, but around 60% of the work has been completed so far due to a shortage of funds. The urban development and housing department had initially sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the project, while the civic body has again sought the release of additional funds to complete the remaining work.Patna mayor Sita Sahu said the project was initially expected to be completed within six months, but its progress was affected by delays in the release of funds and payments. The civic body recently approached the department again, seeking funds and stressing the need to complete the facility at the earliest, she added.The delay has significance beyond waste management because the existing garbage transfer point at Gardanibagh is located around 900 metres from Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. The open waste-handling site can provide an easy source of food for birds, increasing bird activity around the airport and potentially posing a risk to flight operations.The concern has become more pronounced this year. Patna airport recorded 21 bird-hit incidents between January and August, compared with nine during the corresponding period last year. Six incidents were reported in July and five in August, according to airport data.Airport director Chandra Pratap Dwivedi had said airport authorities had been taking measures to drive away birds from the airport area, but pointed to sources of food and waste outside the airport boundary as another concern. Garbage, animal waste and slaughter-related activities in areas around the airport can attract birds and contribute to the problem.The Gardanibagh site had earlier developed into a large mound of accumulated garbage. Officials said the situation had improved substantially in recent months after the accumulated waste was cleared and the site was cleaned regularly. However, the transfer operation continues there until the Yarpur facility is ready.UDHD official said, “Zero waste management is being carried out daily at the secondary point, Gardanibagh, using nine trucks in the morning, afternoon, evening and night. Lime bleaching is also being sprayed and deep cleaning is being done at night with a jetting spray. Engineers from the New Capital Circle have begun the process of installing angles and covering the area with green mesh.”The upcoming Yarpur facility, spread over approximately 34,445 sq ft, is being developed as a closed and contained system for garbage handling and transfer. Once operational, the garbage transfer operation at Gardanibagh will be shut down and shifted to Yarpur, PMC officials said on Monday.The facility will be equipped with modern machinery, including compactors, conveyors and hydraulic systems. Waste collected from households, shops, markets and other public spaces through small collection vehicles such as tippers, rickshaws and e-rickshaws will be brought to the station and unloaded at designated platforms.The waste will then be compressed using mechanical compactors to reduce its volume before being loaded onto larger vehicles for bulk transportation to designated processing or disposal facilities. The system is expected to reduce the movement of waste vehicles on city roads, improve transportation efficiency and lower fuel and transportation costs.The centralised facility will also make monitoring and management of waste easier, while providing a more organised system for transferring municipal solid waste from local collection points to processing or disposal facilities. Officials said the remaining work could be completed once the required funds were released.
