State approves NMC’s garbage composting, recycling projects

Nagpur: A year after it was proposed, the state government has approved Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) idea to drop waste-to-energy and waste-to-biogas projects, and instead develop compost, material recovery facility (MRF), construction and demolition (C&D) projects. The state has approved revised cost of Rs268.68 crore for these projects.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B told TOI, “Urban development department issued notification revising the projects a few days ago. We are contemplating whether to develop and operate the projects under engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model, or performance oriented model. Work to prepare the tenders will start after finalizing the model. We will also table a proposal before general body informing about the model.”
The civic chief said target is to commission the projects within nine months. “It will take at least two months for completion of tendering process and six months for construction,” he said.
For last many years, garbage generated in the city has been dumped at Bhandewadi yard due to lack of reuse and scientific disposal systems. It is causing pollution as well as revenue loss.
As per NMC’s data, around 1,250 metric tonne garbage is generated in the city daily. Under Swachh Bharat Mission, NMC had proposed to develop waste-to-energy project in 2014 and also got approval from the government.
Nagpur Solid Waste Processing and Management Private Ltd (NSWPMPL), a joint venture with Noida-based Essel Infraprojects Limited and Japan-based Hitachi Zosan India Private Ltd, was awarded the contract in May 2017. Also, the plan was to develop biogas plant and compost plant. The government had approved these projects at a cost of Rs231.2 crore under Swachh Maharashtra Abhiyan.
NSWPMPL failed to develop waste-to-energy project. In June last year, the civic body terminated the contract with the company and submitted a revised proposal to the government.
Some days ago, the government approved the revised proposal. Now, NMC will develop waste-to-compost project with capacity of 600 tonne per day (TPD), MRF with capacity of 380 TPD, and C&D with capacity of 150 TPD.
Also, the government has approved funds for development of sanitary landfill sites. NMC can scientifically dispose of the waste which cannot be reused at these sites. Thus, NMC will be able to reuse and dispose of remaining unused garbage, and no garbage will be dumped as it is.
BOX
IN A NUTSHELL
* NMC not reusing or disposing of garbage for last many years
* Huge quantity of garbage lying idle and causing pollution
* NMC proposed waste-to-energy and biogas projects in 2014 under Swachh Bharat Mission
* NMC was given Rs287.34 crore, including Rs266.63 crore for solid waste management projects
* Waste-to-energy and biogas projects failed to kick-off
* NMC submitted revised proposal, govt approved it
* Compost with 600 TPD at Rs19.65 crore
* MRF of 380 TPD at Rs13 crore
* Collection and transportation at Rs83.25 crore
* Sanitary landfill at Rs117.35 crore