Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has closed one of its largest dumping grounds at Mulund from Monday onwards, paving the way for the scientific processing of waste. However, this will increase the load on the Deonar and Kanjurmarg dumping grounds by 1,000 metric tonnes and 500 metric tonnes respectively. With the shutting of Deonar at least a year away, it will have to take additional load till the BMC comes up with a solution.
Mumbai generates 7,200 to 7,500 metric tonnes of waste everyday, of which 3,000 metric tonnes is processed in a scientific processing facility at Kanjurmarg. About 1,500 metric tonnes was being sent to Mulund and the rest to Deonar over the past year. A Bombay High Court monitoring committee is overlooking the issues of Mumbai’s dumping grounds and illegal dumping of debris there. The corporation has already surpassed several deadlines to close the Mulund landfill, coming in for criticism from the court. It is supposed to process seven lakh metric tonnes of waste dumped across 24 hectares after shutting the landfill, but did not find a contractor for the job despite repeated attempts.
The Hindu had reported on June 11 that the BMC had finalised a contractor for biomining at its Mulund dumping ground. The project, worth ₹700 crore, was allotted to M/s Prakash Constrowel Ltd. It will take at least five years to complete. “The contractor will tap the methane in the garbage and use it to produce electricity. The residue can be sold by the contractor, and the organic material left behind can be composted. Biomining has successfully implemented across the world,” a Solid Waste Management Department official said
With a contractor in place, it shut down the ground on Monday. No garbage trucks were sent there and possession was handed over to the contractor.
But with Mulund shut, its 1500 metric tonnes of waste will be divided bwteen Deonar and Kanjurmarg. “Deonar has the capacity to temporarily assimilate more waste. It will not be a problem. We are looking at other solutions,” said Vishawas Shankarwar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, SWM. BMC is supposed to shut Deonar as well and process all waste at Kanjurmarg by increasing its capacity.
The last date for tenders for a waste-to-energy project at Deonar dumping ground was extended again after bidders raised concerns. The project has failed to get bidders in the past and if this continues, Deonar will continue to have waste dumped there.