CEE Jul-Sep-2012

garbage disposal deserves immediate attention is waste generated from markets. Incineration is considered suitable for disposal of bio-medical waste. In this process, garbage is burnt at 6000 °C. Toxic gases produced during the incineration process are treated before released in atmosphere. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) recently received a proposal from the BSES who claims to convert garbage into an ambitions power plant capable of meeting almost half of the capital's present electricity demand. Around Rs 5,600 crores project is gas based, which will make use of sewage water after treatment generating 1,400 MW of electricity. The technology which can convert bio– degradable wastes like putrefied and rotting vegetables, fruits, food wastes from houses, hotels, restaurants and carcass left overs from butcheries into organic manure should be promoted. Eco– friendly technologies such as pelletisation, biomethanation and sanitary land filling should be used for waste disposal. Landfills should be scientifically constructed. Instead of dumping the waste directly into landfill sites, the waste is burnt, treated and then dumped into landfills. Educational programmes against littering segregation and disposal of waste should be introduced. Collection agency (mostly municipality) should designate days to collect different types of trash except kitchen waste which is to be collected on daily basis. Municipal authorities should impose fine on irresponsible disposal by contractors, gardeners, sweepers and others who do not perform their duties. Provision of some award for clean colonies and neighborhoods as an incentive to encourage citizens' participation should be a good initiative. Courtesy: TERRAGREEN, July 2012, Pp 38-40. India Country Profile KESORAM INDUSTRIES PUTS ALL EXPANSION PLANS ON HOLD The B. K. Birla group-controlled Kesoram Industries Ltd has put all expansion plans on hold to focus on turning around current operations, even as it continues to make losses. It recently abandoned a plan to expand its tyre manufacturing capacity, holding back investments of at least Rs 400 crore, even as it obtained shareholders' approval on 11 .7.2012 to raise the threshold on borrowing from Rs. 4,000 crore to Rs. 6,000 crore. A year ago, the company stalled expansion of its other key business division-cement-in view of unfavourable market conditions, delaying a proposed Rs.1 ,200 crore investment into a 2. 5 million tonnes (mt) plant in Karnataka. Many proposed cement factories in southern India have been put on hold because of a demand– supply mismatch and slowing investments in the infrastructure sector, according to Ravi Sodah, a research analyst at the Indian arm of Elara Capital Pic. Kesoram produces 7.5 mt of a cement a year at its factories that are running at a capacity comparable with current industry standards, according to the management. The company's "first priority" is to turn around its existing operations, said Arvind al Singh, chief executive officer of Birla Tyres. The company lost money for six consecutive quarters till December 2011 . In the last quarter of fiscal 2012, it made a co small profit, yet ended the year to with a cash loss of Rs. 82 crore, despite a tax credit of Rs. 330.5 crore, on a consolidated revenue of Rs. 6,005 crore. Analysts have said that margins were under pressure for tyre companies in India over the past two years because of hardening rubber prices, and many manufacturers are now as looking to secure rubber plantations, both within and outs, side India. The company had originally proposed to ramp up the manufacturing capacity of its Balarsore tyre factory at an investment of Rs. 750 crore. After investing Rs. 350 crore on the facility, it is "reassessing" the need to pump in more money, according to Singh. Kesoram had earlier planned to manufacture passenger car radials at Balasore. It currently produces radials for heavy vehicles and two and three-wheelers. The tyre division, which is running at 70-75 per cent of its installed capacity, is largely responsible for the company's woes. Operating losses from the segment were at Rs.428 crore and Rs. 15 crore, respectively, in the last two years, largely on account of Kesoram's inability to cope with fluctuating rubber prices, according to company secretary Gautam Ganguli. Consulting firm McKinsey and Co. was tasked with devising a turnaround strategy more the year ago. According to tyre division's head Singh, McKinsey's "immediate mandate" had ended in May. "We are in the process of implementing some of McKinsey's advice on improving efficiencies," he said. 36