Just as corporators have slammed the civic administration of being apathetic towards the garbage problem in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to issue tenders to start waste processing at Mulund and Deonar dumping grounds. The civic body plans to process about 3,000 metric tonnes (MT) of waste at these dump sites.
The civic administration has admitted that it is unable to process large quantity of waste. Of the 9,310 MT of waste, only 38 per cent is being processed in the city. The BMC is facing difficulties in treating waste scientifically due to various reasons.
According to civic officials, the dumping grounds at Deonar and Mulund were handed over on DBOOT (Design, Build, Own, Operate & Transfer) basis to M/s Tatva Global Environment Deonar Ltd. (TGEDL) in 2009 and M/s Tatva Global Renewable Energy Co. Pvt.Ltd. (TGRECPL) in 2010 respectively for their scientific closure.
According to civic officials, the concessionaire at Deonar was required to carry out partial closure of the Deonar dumping ground and simultaneously put up two compost plants for processing of municipal solid waste (MSW) of 2,000 metric tonnes capacity; whereas the concessionaire at Mulund was required to set up a bio-methanation plant for processing of a total 500 MT waste per day. Both the projects were required to be executed on public-private partnership basis. “However, the BMC has terminated both agreements for breaches of contract. As the waste is not treated scientifically at Deonar and Mulund, it is only being deposited at these dump sites. After terminating the arrangement, the BMC has decided to come out with a tender and invite bids for scientific waste processing at Deonar and Mulund.
At the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, 3,000 MT of waste is being processed presently. However, considering that the city generates more than 9,000 MT waste, there is a need to start waste processing at Mulund and Deonar on an immediate basis.
“The garbage issue will be under control once its scientific processing will start at Deonar and Mulund. The state government has agreed to provide 32 hectares of land at Taloja for dumping of waste,” said the official.
