BMC plans to use failed tech in Kanjurmarg dump

MUMBAI: Despite its failed attempts to generate electricity at its Gorai dumping ground, the BMC is making plans to generate electricity at the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. The latter is meant to be the city’s first scientific landfill site.
Prakash Patil, deputy municipal commissioner, in-charge of solid waste management, said the BMC had to drop its plan for introducing composting technology as the space for the dumping ground has reduced from 141 hectares to 66 hectares because it comes under CRZ-I.“The area is too small to carry out composting,” Patil said.
The BMC has now approached the State Environment Appraisal Committee for Environment Clearance (SEAC) for its new technology, Bio-reactor land filling (Anaerobic Digestion Process), which it claims is feasible while the composting technology (a proven technology world over) is economically and environmentally unviable. So now, of the 4,000 tonnes per day (TPD) that will reach the dumping ground, 1,000 TPD will treated by composting and the remaining 3,000 TPD by the bio-methanization process and will generate electricity.
Patil said the technology for generating electricity from gas is still new. “We are studying whether or not it will be economically viable and only then introduce it,” he said.
D Stalin, director, Vanshakti, who had first brought to the Bombay HC’s notice how the BMC had tried to clandestinely introduce the bio-reactor land filling method, alleged it was being done to benefit the contractor. “BMC collects mixed waste. There is no segregation. The bio-reactor technology strictly requires only biodegradable waste. Also, it generates such foul odour that US standards require such a land fill site must be 10 km from any human habitation. The Kanjur landfill is only 200 metres from Kannamwar Nagar,” he said.
Since the BMC allowed the bio-reactor cells to be built without clearance from a statutory body, if the SEAC rejects the proposal, the BMC will have to compensate the contractor for having set up the infrastructure which it cannot use, said Stalin.