BMC to appoint TCS as consultant for waste plant

The fire that raged on at Deonar dumping ground till recently has prompted Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to expedite the process of setting up a waste-to-energy plant at the dump site. The civic body has decided to appoint M/s. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as consultant for this project at a cost of Rs 59 lakh.

According to civic officials, the city generates 9,500 metric tonne garbage, which is dumped at grounds in Deonar, Mulund and Kanjurmarg. BMC has set up a bioreactor plant at the Kanjurmarg dumping ground that processes 3000 MT of waste. The remaining garbage is dumped at Mulund and Deonar grounds.

As per the high court’s directions, BMC has decided to set up a 2,000 MT capacity waste-to-energy plant at the Deonar dumping ground. A consultant is required for this specialised project that will be carried out for the first time in the city. Hence, BMC has decided to appoint TCS, which is one of the selected firms among the list of technical consultants of the Union Urban Development Ministry, said civic officials.

Siraj Ansari, chief engineer (solid waste management), said, “Though TCS was the only bidder for the project, the rates quoted by them are quite reasonable. They also have expertise in such kind of works. They will be preparing the detailed project report of the waste-to-energy plant for the BMC. The contract period will be of four months.”

The recent fire at the Deonar dumping ground has emphasised the need for scientific processing of garbage at dump sites. The fire kept raging for more than a week, which caused lot of health problems for those living in the vicinity.

CM asks for installation of CCTVs at deonar Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday has asked for CCTV cameras to be installed at Deonar dumping ground to monitor fire-like incidents. He visited the residents of Chembur Sunday evening after receiving lot of complains of increase in pollution and health hazards.

On a micro blogging site, the CM said “met Chembur residents,heard their complaints on Deonar. asked MC Ajoy Mehta to initiate swift action & time bound plan for corrective steps (sic)”

The BMC commissioner informed the CM that CCTVs will be installed at the dumping ground and the first lot of 12 was being installed on Monday. For fire safety, two engines will be stationed there permanently.

In order to deal with the release of methane, the CM said, a committee under Ramesh Kumar, NEERI and IIT has been asked to study and suggest measures. The tender is already out and consultants would be appointed at the earliest, he added.

The CM said the MCGM had taken the decision of no landfill in future dumping grounds and assured the residents that a joint committee with representative of citizens, government and the BMC would be constituted soon.