BENGALURU: In an attempt to streamline the Solid Waste Management (SWM) process, which has posed a serious challenge to the BBMP, the civic body received presentations from 15 agencies on the best possible technology to generate ‘waste to electricity’ or ‘waste to compost.’
BBMP joint commissioner, (health) Sarfaraz Khan told Deccan Chronicle that generating electricity and compost from the municipal solid waste, has been working wonders in US, China and other countries, which have also battled a garbage menace.
During Mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy’s visit to China, he was impressed with the Chinese technology of processing waste, he said.
Companies like National Agriculture Fertilisers Co-operative (NAFCO), Khoday, National Environment Green, Movers and Indem were among the major companies who made presentation before the Expert Committee on SWM constituted by the High Court.
The existing scientific waste processing plants have the capacity to process about 2500 Metric Tonnes (MT) of waste. However, they too are facing certain constraints and opposition from the communities living around the waste processing area. They have been complaining about the bad stench and the mosquitoes who breed there in large numbers. The residents have been raising apprehensions about health hazards.
Except NAFCO, other companies are focused on waste-to-energy technology. NAFCO is basically into composting and the BBMP also promotes composting. However, it needs segregated waste. Incineration would be the last option or would be taken up on a small scale, Khan said.
The expert committee is satisfied with some of the companies and will soon make a choice. An Expression of Interest (EoI) will be floated, giving a chance to all the companies which made their presentations. Successful bidders will be short-listed to take up the scientific waste management, he said.
Khan said that the BBMP is contemplating a combination of energy and compost units at the existing plants at Seegehalli, Kannahalli, Doddabidarakallu, Chikkanagamangala and Mavallipura. A proposal in this regard has been sent to the state government. Once their approval is obtained, the next step will be taken, he said.
The Mayor told Deccan Chronicle that Chinese technology was sound and invited them to make a presentation on their technology. Meanwhile, other companies have made their presentations and the company with the best technology will be picked up, he added.
Mayor’s plea
Communities living around the scientific waste processing plants have been urged to desist from obstructing garbage dumping and processing at the waste processing plants, said Mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy. After inspecting the processing plant at the Doddabidarakallu, he said that issues affecting the public can be resolved and blocking garbage trucks cannot be a solution, he said. When nearby residents came to know about the Mayor’s visit, they gathered and told the Mayor about their grievances.
