Following the successful launch and implementation of pilot projects for waste collection, transportation and disposal, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation has set out in a big way to process waste and generate energy. Municipal Commissioner Vishesh Garhpale speaks to Clean India Journal about the on-going projects and the future plans for Bhopal.
We had visited Clean India Pulire Show last year in Mumbai and we learned a lot from the various exhibits. We have been planning and implementing various solutions for proper waste disposal in Bhopal city.
Since the last three years, the Corporation has established door to door collection scheme in which about 2000 ragpickers and rickshaw pullers are engaged. Out of the 4.5 lakh households in Bhopal, waste is collected from at least 2.5 lakh households daily. This waste is either unloaded in the nearby dustbins or at the collection centres from where the municipal vehicles lift the garbage and dump it at the Bhanpura dumpsite. More than three decade old and about 90% filled to its capacity, this site is now inside municipal limits. Thus, there is a need for various technological options to cap the dumpsite scientifically and create a scientific landfill outside the municipal limits.
Bhopal has about 285.88sqkm of area with about 1844000 population, according to census 2011. Average waste generation is about 365gm per capita per day. As per a projection, the waste generation quantities are estimated to increase 886.5 metric tonnes per day in year 2021 from 569 metric tonnes in 2011 in Bhopal.
While a good collection and transportation system is in place, the waste is not being processed but directly off loaded in the dumpsite. This gap needs to be filled by introducing proper processing of waste.
The State has identified and allotted a 60 acre land in Adampur for developing scientific landfill. We would like to develop a processing and disposal system alongside the landfill. The feasibility study has already been completed and the Corporation has called RFQ (Request for Qualification) for the project on a PPP model.
We had visited the Clean India Pulire show in Mumbai last year and learned a lot from there.
In the meantime, we launched a pilot project involving the ragpickers for plastic waste collection. A couple of baling units have been set up where the plastic waste purchased from ragpickers is being made into bales and then delivered to cement plants. The Corporation has signed an MOU with the MP Pollution Control Board and the plastic waste is consumed by various cement plants in Katni, Damoh and other places in the State. The ragpickers have been provided with cycle rickshaw for collecting waste.
Similarly, besides collection, pilot projects of converting waste to RDF and bio-composting plant of 50 tonnes per day are also operational in parallel. The bio compost of mixed waste and not just organic is processed and sold in the market. There is a huge demand for compost but due to lack of space for such plants the production has been limited. In order to compost 800TPD waste per day, there is a requirement of several acres of land, which is not feasible. Further with changing lifestyle and increasing waste, we need to look at long term solutions.
Last year, two conferences were conducted where waste management companies made presentations of all types of technological solutions. Following which we decided upon processing waste by setting up Waste to Energy plants. The Corporation has called for bids which is technology neutral. The bidder will decide on the technology which is feasible for this project.
Thereafter in consultation with the State and Central Government, we have floated two pre-qualification bid. The scope of work of this assignment is the integrated C&T system for Bhopal city, the closing and capping of Bhanpura site, establishment of processing and disposal facility at Adampur and finally the scientific landfill site at Adampur Chavni.
The last date of the PQ bid is May 5 and we call upon the industry to submit their bids, following which the proposals submitted will be evaluated. In accordance with the Government of India rules, the Corporation can provide the VGF (Viability Gap Funding) or the bidder could also pay premium to us.
The RFP will be provided to the selected bidders, who will submit the offer which will be further evaluated and thereafter the contract will be awarded. The bidder has to prepare a detailed project report, get it sanctioned by us and commission the project within 24 months. The assignment is for 25 years.
Different States have implemented various processes and technologies. While they have been successful in certain aspects, as a whole there is no single successful model. We are looking for a comprehensive and complete solutions based on successful models.”