NMC set to scrap waste-to-energy project for biogas, compost plants

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has proposed to replace waste-to-energy project with bio-CNG and compost plants.
The civic body is likely to terminate agreement executed with Nagpur Solid Waste Processing and Management Private Ltd (NSWPMPL), a joint venture of Noida-based Essel Infraprojects Limited and Japan-based Hitachi Zosan India Private Ltd, for the waste-to-energy project.
The NMC has, on July 31, submitted a letter to the state government proposing to replace the waste-to-energy project with bio-CNG and compost plants under the central government’s Swachh Bharat Mission. The state’s Swachh Bharat Mission department, in a letter dated August 2, has asked the NMC to submit a detailed project report (DPR) of the two projects and consent of the standing committee and general body.
Sources told TOI that city buses and NMC vehicles will be run on bio-CNG to be produced at the new plant. “Proposal is to establish bio-CNG plant with a capacity to treat 500 tonne in the initial stage. The plant will be expanded after reviewing the performance. 300 tonne garbage will be used for manufacturing compost. The central government’s Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF) will procure the compost from the NMC. Earlier, waste-to-energy project was planned for using 800 tonne garbage,” sources said.
The NMC will seek funds for the two projects under Swachh Bharat Mission. The government has already approved Rs308 crore under Swachh Bharat Mission of which Rs70 crore were earmarked for the waste-to-energy project. The NMC will divert the funds for the two projects and seek remaining amount under Swachh Bharat Mission.
Municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar told TOI that final decision on termination of agreement with NSWPMPL is yet to be taken. “NMC has sought funds for bio-CNG and compost plants,” he said.
The NMC has reportedly taken the decision to revise the projects owing to the failure of NSWPMPL in developing waste-to-energy project. A couple of months ago, the NMC had issued show-cause notice to NSWPMPL asking why the agreement should not be terminated.
The NMC had planned to produce 11.5MW power by using 800 tonne garbage. The agreement was executed with NSWPMPL on May 4, 2017 and the company was to commission the project before January 7, 2020, which is unlikely as the operator has not started the work yet.
NSWPMPL has cleared garbage from 10 acres allotted to it for the project at Bhandewadi dumping yard. Last month, the operator had brought in a machine to segregate garbage and transport it to its waste-to-energy project running at Jabalpur. With the NMC’s decision, the project at Jabalpur is also likely to be hit.
All these developments will impact city’s environment also. Around 1,100 tonne garbage is generated in the city daily of which only 150-200 tonne is being treated at the plant operated by Hanjer Biotech that too not in a regular manner. Rest of the garbage is dumped at the Bhandewadi dumping yard and the same will continue till commissioning of the new proposed projects.