The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to create a waste to energy (W2E) plant at the Deonar Landfill that will be able to recycle 600 Metric Tonne (MT) of waste per day to generate at least 17 million units of electricity annually.
Here’s all you need to know about Mumbai’s waste to electricity plant.
What is a W2E plant
A waste to electricity plant is a facility in which solid waste components are scientifically combusted in a bid to generate electricity from them. Usually, the waste materials are burnt in an incinerator through which electricity is produced and the generated power is used for various purposes.
How much waste does Mumbai generates in one day
Mumbai, on a daily basis, generated 6,385 MT of solid waste. Out of the total waste, around 5,500 MT to 5,700 MT is transported to the Kanjurmarg waste facility, where the waste is segregated and treated. The remaining 500 MT to 600 MT is sent to the open landfill in Deonar where they are kept untreated.
How will the waste to electricity plant help Mumbai
According to the BMC’s plan, after the W2E plant becomes operational the entire bulk of 600 MT solid waste from the landfill will be recycled for generating power. This process will also help civic officials to recover the 120 hectares of land in the Deonar landfill which at present is buried under piles of garbage.
Current status of the waste to electricity plant
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had appointed a consultant for the construction of the plant in 2022 and so far, 10 per cent of the total work has been completed. The civic authorities have pegged the cost of building the plant at Rs 504 crore and is eyeing a 2026 deadline for making this plant operational.
What does the administration say
BMC additional municipal commissioner Sudhakar Shinde said, “The basic objective is to put an optimum use of the bulk of solid waste that is generated regularly. The electricity that would be generated could be used for serious purposes like lighting up streets, hospitals and residential clusters. The dumping ground is more than 100 hectare in size and our target is also to free up this land parcel from the existing garbage mountains that are lying on it by treating them scientifically. In the long run, we want to use this land for some purpose that would benefit the citizens.”
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
