Waste-to-energy plant discussion next week

NAVI MUMBAI: In the next general body meeting of the civic body on January 20, two pilot projects – the waste-to-energy plant and the recycling plant for construction and demolition (C and D) waste — will be up for discussion.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had proposed a waste-to-energy plant for producing electricity by processing waste generated in the city. Energy will be generated from the primary treatment of waste in a scientific manner.

The waste-to-energy plant will process around 725 metric tonnes of waste generated in the city daily to generate around 15 megawatt of energy.

The method will reduce the quantity of waste and help in reducing environmental pollution, besides generation of energy. An estimated cost of Rs160 crore has been allocated for the project.

Officials said they will approach the government for subsidy funding, which will reduce the overall cost by 20%.

Civic chief Dinesh Waghmare said, “We are ready with the detailed project report of the waste-to-energy project, which will be presented before the next general body meeting. Once approved, we will approach the government for subsidy.”

The project will be done on a public-private-partnership (PPP) model and processing of the waste will be done at the Turbhe landfill site. Once approved, it will take around six months for the processing to begin.

“The C and D waste recycling plant will be built at an estimated cost of Rs20 to 25 crore at the Turbhe landfill site,” said Waghmare. According to sources, around 1,000 tonnes of illegal debris is caught by the flying squad of the encroachment department of NMMC annually.

“Once the project is implemented, it will curb illegal dumping of debris. We will make it mandatory for contractors to strictly dispose of the waste at the designated site and the segregated waste will be used for making tiles, paver blocks and for other construction purposes,” he said.

We will make it mandatory for contractors to strictly dispose of the waste at the designated site and the segregated waste will be used for making tiles and paver blocks. Dinesh Waghmare, NMMC commissioner