JNAC’s fertilizer production plan stalls, compost machines lie unused

JNAC’s Rs 40-lakh compost project stalls amid manpower shortage and negligence

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur: A promising initiative by the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) to convert waste materials into fertilizer has hit a roadblock due to the negligence and manpower shortage at the organization. Eight compost machines, purchased in January 2022 for Rs 40 lakh under the 15th Finance Commission, remain unopened and unused. These machines, each costing Rs 5 lakh, are currently stored in the JNAC Baridiha depot, with no plans for installation or use.

The original plan was to place one machine in the JNAC office and distribute the others to large temples across the city. The machines were meant to recycle materials used in religious worship, such as flowers and leaves, to produce compost. However, three years later, not a single machine has been set up. The key issue identified is the severe lack of manpower to manage and operate the machines, leaving the equipment sitting idle and deteriorating.

Lack of manpower halts project implementation

“The compost machines remain packed and unused due to the ongoing shortage of personnel. We are currently reevaluating the plan to use these machines effectively in temples and other locations,” said Krishna Kumar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of JNAC. “A new strategy will be devised soon to ensure the machines are used for compost production.”

Each machine is capable of processing up to one ton of worship materials daily to create fertilizer. This compost could benefit local gardening, organic farming, and generate revenue from sales. JNAC had hoped to collect worship materials from over 150 temples in the area to bring to a central location for processing, but these efforts have stalled.

Unrealized potential of the compost project

With hundreds of tons of waste produced daily from local temples, the compost machines had the potential to significantly reduce waste and provide useful fertilizer. However, the project has not progressed due to logistical challenges and a lack of trained personnel to operate the equipment.

In addition to the compost machines, JNAC’s operational efficiency is hindered by the lack of experts to manage other equipment, such as the trommel machine, which was bought for Rs 40 lakh. The trommel machine, meant for waste processing at the Sonari Domuhani garbage dumping yard, has also been left unused due to a shortage of skilled workers.

Broader impact of manpower shortages

JNAC has been struggling to implement several key projects due to the same issue of insufficient staff. Garbage collection, sanitation, and ambulance services have been outsourced due to the lack of in-house personnel. “Many schemes are being delayed or affected because of this shortage,” said an official from JNAC.

The municipality has now called for new plans and solutions to utilize the compost machines and improve the efficiency of its operations in the coming days