Bantwal: The Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is being set up in Shamboor of Narikombu Gram Panchayat, aimed at managing the solid waste generated by 57 gram panchayats in the Bantwal and Ullal taluks. The facility, built at a cost of Rs 1.95 crore, is in its final stages of construction and is expected to become operational within a month.

The MRF facility, located on Survey No. 24/1 J in Shamboor, spans 7,000 square feet on a 1-acre plot. It has the capacity to process 7 tons of dry waste daily. Once operational, the facility will serve 40 gram panchayats in Bantwal and 17 in Ullal, covering 99,520 households and commercial establishments.

Although the facility was initially planned to be operational months ago, delays arose for various reasons. Currently, equipment installation is in its final stages, while other construction work, such as roofing and civil works, is complete. Dakshina Kannada district’s first MRF was set up in Thenka Yedapadavu, Mangaluru. The second phase saw facilities approved for Ujire in Belthangady, Kedambady in Puttur, and Shamboor in Bantwal.

Zero-Cost Model for Gram Panchayats

Each gram panchayat currently collects waste through Swachha Vahini vehicles, which is then segregated and stored in waste management units within each panchayat. The collected waste will be routed to the MRF in Bantwal for further processing, where it will be mechanically separated, recycled, and even sold to cement production plants as fuel. A technical and administrative committee has been formed to oversee facility management.

This MRF operates on a unique “Zero Rupees Model” developed by Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, marking the first time in the state that gram panchayats can participate without financial strain. Under this model, dry waste can be delivered to the facility without a fee.

Equipment Installation and Progress

The MRF facility’s construction is nearly complete, with machinery installation underway. “If all goes as planned, the facility will begin operations within a month,” said  Sachin Kumar, Operational Officer, Bantwal Taluk Panchayat.

Funding Allocation

The MRF facility was funded by the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat’s Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) under the Department of Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation. Of the Rs 1.95 crore total cost, Rs 1.46 crore was allocated for civil works and Rs 48.50 lakh for equipment. Funding sources include Rs 98 lakh from gram panchayats, Rs 32 lakh from Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), Rs 35 lakh from the Taluk Panchayat, and Rs 30 lakh from the Zilla Panchayat. Additionally, Rs 24 lakh from MCF’s CSR funds was allocated for waste collection vehicles needed by each gram panchayat.

Translated version of a Kannada article by Kiran Sarapady