BMC to conduct geological survey of Deonar dumpyard for waste-to-energy plant

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to conduct a geological survey for landfill. By doing this, the civic body has moved a step ahead towards initiating the much-awaited waste-to-energy project at Deonar dumping ground.

The civic body has already roped in a contractor for the same. It has recruited Renuka Consultants for the project which is estimated to cost Rs 77 lakh.

The corporation wishes to convert the piles of debris, that lays across 12 hectares of Deonar dumping ground, into electricity. The tender floated for the project has been approved. The project is expected to be completed by June end.

The civic body’s earlier plan of setting up a 25 megawatt plant to process 3,000 metric tonnes of garbage per day has been dropped, said a senior official. Earlier this year, the Centre sanctioned Rs 571 crore for two waste-to-energy plants at Deonar dumping ground.

“The income profit from the plant has also been done away with. Instead, there will be two such energy plants, each processing around 600 to 750 metric tonnes and generating 10 MW each day," said a senior civic official. "The plants will be implemented on a design-build-operatemaintenance basis. No other technology has been finalised,” he said.

In addition, the BMC will also receive technical support from the Union ministries of climate change, urban development and environment and forests portfolios. The official also added that once the Deonar project is successful, two more plants are scheduled.