HYDERABAD: Biomining of legacy dumpsites (where wa-ste has been collecting many years), including the Jawaharanagar dump yard, has turned into a huge challenge for authorities as millions of tons of municipal solid waste has piled up here.
While Jawharanagar alone has 12 million tons of waste, other 141 urban local bodies (ULB) have 7.1 lakh tons of waste lying at the legacy dumpsites. So far, work order has been given to seven bidders in 123 ULBs and work has already commenced at Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation, Karimnagar, Bhongir, Suryapet, Dudigdal and Ameenpur ULBs. Collectively, 1.1 lakh metric tons of legacy waste has been processed from these sites.
Biomining — the process of extracting metals from ores or waste by using microorganisms — at Jawaharnagar is proposed to be completed by 2025.
The southern bench of NGT had earlier issued orders to GHMC to carry out biomining based on a petition filed by Shankar Narayanan Bala Krishnan. On March 29, GHMC commissioner, D S Lokesh Kumar filed a report with the NGT where in he said that the civic body had addressed a letter to the Central Pollution Control Board “to depute technical experts for advising on how to proceed further with biomining of the already capped dumpsite”. However, CPCB conveyed that it has “no technical expertise” and suggested that if GHMC would like to take up biomining, “they may seek the advice of experts from IIT”.
On March 28, GHMC also invited global tenders for disposal of legacy waste from Jawaharnagar legacy dumpsite, resource recovery and suitable disposal of residual solid wastes as per Solid Waste Management rules. The last date for submission of bids is on May 13, 2022.
“The project is scheduled to be completed in 36 months. Out of 36 months, three months is earmarked for site preparation and mobilisation of men and machinery and the remaining 33 months is divided into 11 quarters. Biomining and bioremediation at Jawaharnagar is expected to complete by the end of May 2025,” GHMC’s submission to NGT stated.
With respect to an alternative site for scientific disposal of municipal solid waste, 150 acres of vacant land is in advance possession of GHMC’s Concessionaire. Once the forest department to the approach road issue, it will be ready to establish a processing and disposal facility. The clearance is expected in another two weeks, the report added. “Post that, GHMC will initiate development of solid waste treatment and disposal facility and complete it in 18 months,” it stated.
Lokesh Kumar, meanwhile, has requested NGT not to impose any environment compensation on GHMC. He claimed that the legacy dumpsite is not contributing to environmental pollution. He said efforts are also on to reduce surface and ground water pollution through a dedicated project for comprehensive treatment of legacy leachate at 251 crore.
