The ever-increasing waste generated in the city that just has three dumping grounds has now forced BMC to consider decentralisation,with mini-grounds at various locations. While the citys largest dumping ground at Deonar has been receiving over 6,000 metric tonnes of waste daily,including the diverted waste from the Kanjurmarg site,the third one at Mulund has almost reached its intake capacity. Kanjurmarg has been plagued with operational issues for the last three months. We are planning to invite private players who can operate dumping grounds with a capacity of about 800 metric tonnes of waste daily, said a senior civic official. Though BMC has not finalised the number,it is considering five to 15 spots across the city, the civic official said. These dumping spots will also process waste. We will invite expressions of interest from various private firms in a few days,following which we will prepare the tenders, said M Pimple,deputy chief engineer in charge of solid waste management (projects). Once we have dumping grounds across the city,the burden of dumping and treating waste would not be on just a couple of operators. In case of an operational failure at a spot,the waste can be easily diverted to another, said a senior civic official. The civic administration is seeking proposals from companies that have around five hectares to spare and necessary technology and experience to operate dumping and processing plants,officials said. BMCs environment status report for 2011-12 pegs the waste generated in the city every day at 9,200 metric tonnes. Of this,about 15 per cent lies uncollected for want of resources,the report states. BMC had closed the citys oldest dumping ground at Gorai more than 15 years ago. At that time,it was the largest. The one at Deonar is partially closed. Of the 25 hectares at Mulund,12 will go for closure,leaving little land for BMC to dump waste.
