The state government informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that it would take another two years for Bengaluru’s garbage problem to be streamlined.
In a written reply to Shantinagar MLA N A Haris, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who holds the Bengaluru City Development portfolio, said the government had approved various projects with which 4,000 tonnes of the city’s solid waste will be used to generate energy or compressed natural gas (CNG).
“All these projects will be ready in two years,” Law Minister J C Madhuswamy said on behalf of Yediyurappa, who was not present in the House. “Bengaluru generates 5,500 tonnes of solid waste daily. Of this, 4,000-4,500 tonnes come from domestic households,” he added.
According to the government’s reply, there are five solid waste management projects in the pipeline.
The Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) will set up a 600-tonne capacity plant at Bidadi to use solid waste or refuse-derived fuel to generate 11.5 MW power at a cost of Rs 260 crore.
Other projects are being taken up on public-private partnership. The government has approved a waste-to-energy unit to be set up by Satarem Enterprises at Kanalli to generate 12 MW power using 1,000 tonnes of mixed waste. This will be up and running in 24 months, Yediyurappa said.
Similarly, another waste-to-energy unit will be ready in 12 months that will be set up by Indium to use 300 tonnes of mixed waste and generate 4 MW at Doddabidarakallu. The government said action was being taken to enter into an agreement with Nexus Novas for the establishment of a 600-tonne capacity waste-to-energy plant at Marenahalli. On the same lines, NEG has been permitted to set up a unit to generate 8 MW power using 500 tonnes waste.
Last month, the government approved a project to use 1,000 tonnes of waste to produce CNG by Farmgreen at Mavallipura.
Yediyurappa also said in his reply that the government had put on hold a project to set up a waste recycling park at Madhugiri and Kanakapura due to protests by locals.
“After Mandur, locals will naturally protest the city’s waste being brought into their villages,” former Bengaluru City Development Minister KJ George said. “The Centre gives 40% subsidy for waste-to-energy plants only after they’re commissioned. But, if the government can convince the Centre to give this upfront, it will incentivize more players to come forward because nobody will be ready to invest Rs 350 crore required to set up one unit,” he said.
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