Nagpur has taken a step towards making the city pollution-free. Effective disposal of the waste and generating revenue from it will be carried out through the Integrated Solid Waste Management Project. This was stated by Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He performed bhoomipujan of the project at the Bhandewadi waste dumping yard on Monday in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The solid waste processing unit with a capacity to process about 1,000 metroc tonne is being built on Design, Finance, Operate, Own and Transfer (DFBOOT) basis, on Bidgaon Road, Bhandewadi. Legislators Krishna Khopde, Tekchand Sawarkar, Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Dr Abhijit Chaudhari, Commercial Ambassador of The Netherlands Bart D Jong, Additional Municipal Commissioner Anchal Goel and Dr Sunil Lahane; Chief Engineer Rajiv Gaikwad, Superintending EngineerDr Shweta Bannerjee, Founder of Sustainable Business Development Bert Jugel, CEO Jap Binebos, Director Kedar Waze, ARC Chairman Pyare Khan and others were present.
Gadkari said that the project is similar to the ‘Waste to Wealth’ and ‘Knowledge to Wealth’ missions. The project will help the development of Nagpur and also present a model in Solid Waste Management for the nation. After segregating the solid waste, fertilizers, CNG, and LNG can be made, and plastic waste will be processed for making fuel. The project will be an important step towards making pollution-free Nagpur. NMC will earn out of the project, he said and advised to use the CNG generated for the city buses operated by NMC.
Fadnavis said that such projects are necessary as pollution is a major challenge across the world. Modern technology from the Netherlands is being used in the project. With the use of technology, Nagpur would place an important example for the nation as a sustainable city. It will be a city with circular economy.
MLA Krishna Khopde thanked Gadkari and Fadnavis for their initiative for the project.
Dr Chaudhari made introductory remarks. An MoU was signed between NMC and SusBDe, Netherlands. Initially, NMC is expected to earn Rs 15 lakh per year from the project, in which dry fermentation technology would be used, which is the first of its kind in India. The project is expected to be fully operational within 18 months. An additional 9 acres of land for Fresh Waste Processing is being made available. Dr Chaudhari also assured that those engaged in the collection of waste will be accommodated in the project.
Renuka Deshkar conducted the proceedings. Anchal Goel proposed a vote of thanks.