North MCD to set up waste-to-energy unit

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to join hands with Vienna, Austria to set up a new waste-to-energy plant at Bhalswa as a part of Swachh Bharat Mission.

But it said it has not received funds from the Centre under the Swachh Bharat Mission this financial year so far, hinting that the shortage of funds might delay the project.
The North Corporation Mayor Sanjeev Nayyar on Monday said that the civic agency had got Rs 46 crore under Swachh Bharat Mission last year before the beginning of the financial year 2014-15.

“But the civic agency has not any financial aid from Centre under Swachh Bharat Mission so far this year,” said Nayyar.

Despite being cash-starved, the corporation has cleared the decks to start a waste-to-energy plant at Bhalaswa to increase its capacity to process solid waste.

Practical solution
He added that disposal of solid waste is a “big challenge and the only practical solution is to process it on a daily basis”.

The new plant will be able to process or incinerate over 90 per cent of the waste generated in the areas under the civic agency, and the remaining waste will be used in making bricks, said Nayyar.

“Technical assistance from Vienna will be sought in developing this waste-to-energy plant.”

The mayor said that Vienna has a “spectacular” waste processing unit.

Stench free

“When I have been to Vienna, I saw a waste processing unit in the center of the city. And there was no stench at all,”  said Nayyar.

The mayor also announced that the Narela-Bawana waste-to-energy plant will be operational by November.

After commissioning, the plant will be able to treat 1,550 MTD waste generating 24 MW electricity, said an official.

“Apart from these two waste-to-energy plants, there is a plan to start small-scale waste-processing plants as well under the limits of the North Corporation.”

While the city has three landfill sites at Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla, there are three waste-to-energy plants at Okhla, Narela-Bawana and Ghazipur.

The waste-to-energy plant at Okhla is operational whereas the plant at Ghazipur is under trial.

Delhi generates over 8,300 metric tonne of waste every day, which is dealt by five civic agencies – three municipal corporations, New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantt.
While areas under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation generate 3,100 metric tonne per day (MTD) solid waste, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation is responsible to dispose off 2,700 metric tonne garbage daily.

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation dumps 2,200 MTD waste at landfill sites, the New Delhi Municipal Council takes care of 300 metric tonne solid waste whereas the Delhi Cantonment handles 70 MTD waste.

Of the 8,370 metric tonne of waste generated by the city daily, there is a provision to treat only 4,800 MTD.

Trial basis
Of the total 2200 MTD waste generated by the East Corporation, the upcoming waste-to-energy plant at Ghazipur can treat waste up to 1,300 MTD waste.
The plant is allowed to run on trial basis.

Of the 2,700 MTD waste generated by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, the Okhla-Timarpur waste-to-energy plant can treat only 1,950 MTD waste generating 16 MW electricity.
DH News Service