BMC’s waste-to-energy project still on paper

It is awaiting an NOC from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board; the plant is supposed to treat 600 metric tonnes of waste every day and generate 4 megawatts of electricity

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) ambitious waste-to-energy project has stalled for want of a No Objection Certificate from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Interestingly, the Central government had given the project clearance in just a month.

The BMC had approved a Rs 504 crore waste-to-energy mega project in November 2021 at the Deonar dumping ground. “The Environment Clearance (EC) for it from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change came in December 2021. After that BMC approached MPCB but we are still waiting for an NOC from the agency. We can’t move ahead till we get the NOC. BMC officials held a meeting with MPCB officials in the first week of May 2022 regarding this,” said a BMC official.

Civic activist Anil Galgali said, “MPCB should decide on a war footing for such a project. If the project is delayed its cost will increase. Everyone knows waste disposal is one of the biggest challenges for the city, but still, the BMC is not getting an NOC. This is very serious.”

MPCB chairman Abasaheb Jharad did not respond to calls and messages. “We are hoping the NOC will be received early,” said Minesh Pimple, deputy chief engineer, Solid Waste Management Department.

“We have asked the contractor to take guidance from an IIT-Bombay expert to develop the project site and basic work has started. We are waiting for NOC for the construction of the plant. It will take 40 months to complete it. Every day 600 metric tons of waste will be treated and 4 megawatts of electricity will be generated,” said a BMC official.

After a major fire in 2015 at the Deonar dumping ground, the Central government and the Bombay High Court had ordered the BMC to come up with a scientific plan for waste disposal. “The Deonar dumping ground was established in 1927 and is spread across 120 hectares. Out of about 5,800 metric tons of garbage generated daily in Mumbai, nearly 600 metric tons is dumped in Deonar. Besides Deonar, BMC only has the Kanjurmarg processing centre,” said another civic official.

“The BMC has also set aside Rs 12.40 crore for an environment management plan to implement mitigation measures. The BMC has a plan to use fly ash generated from the plant for brick manufacturing and road construction, air pollution control measures, and separate funds for implementation of the environment management plan,” another 
official said.

Rs 504
Cost in crore of the plant 

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