Emphasis on waste management

KOCHI: In response to the booming waste disposal crisis in all major cities of the state, an emphasis has been given for waste management in the 2012-13 Budget. From tax cuts on e-toilets to mandatory construction of solid waste management plants in all new flats, the provisions for waste management are many.The Budget has promised big and high-end technology-based waste treatment plants in Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kozhikode. A sum of `100 crore has been allotted for the preliminary works of the plants. The plants will be built and operated on a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Thrissur and Kollam corporations have been given an amount of `15 crore for waste management.