When BBMP let a compost unit go waste

The ineptitude and non-serious attitude of BBMP in failing to allot the extent of land it promised a contractor, not only undermined a major garbage-processing project on the outskirts of the city, but also led to its closing down.

Perhaps taking a cue from its garbage contractors who violate the terms of concession indiscriminately, the BBMP violated twice over its contract terms with Ramky Infrastructure Limited, which was supposed to set up a compost unit at Mavallipura on the outskirts of the city, by giving only half of the land it promised the contractor, and dumping garbage far in excess of what the plant could handle.

The excess dumping of garbage stretched the capacity of the contractor to the breaking point, led to an acute health hazard at the dumping site, and attracted a stringent high court order to close down the facility.

The Palike entered into a concession agreement with Ramky Infrastructure Limited on August 11, 2004, according to which it would hand over 100 acres of land near Mavallipura to the latter for setting up a compost unit of 600 metric tonnes per day (MTPD). However, the BBMP handed over only 46 acres of land to Ramky, because of which the contractor could only establish a 300-MTPD unit, i.e., half of the capacity originally envisaged.

The unit commenced production in 2007, but the BBMP did not hand over the remaining land (54 acres of 100 acres) to  the concessionaire, Ramky Energy & Environment Ltd, till August 20, 2008.
At this point of time, landfills at S Bingipura, Subbarayanapalya, Cheemasandra and Anjanapura were closed, and the BBMP began despatching garbage so far sent to the landfills, to Mavallipura, overwhelming the contractor.

The BBMP commissioner himself confirmed it in a letter dated May 5, 2013 to the principal secretary, department of urban development while forwarding a proposal to set up a waste to energy unit at Mavallipura by Ramky Energy & Environment Limited in collaboration with M/s Clean & Green Solutions.

On September 2, 2008, MG Sudheendra of Ramky informed the deputy commissioner (health), BBMP, that the compost unit was receiving a huge quantity of garbage as against the agreed supply of 400 tonnes per day.

“This too is very much above the normal processing capacity of 300 tonnes per day. But now, we are receiving about 530 tonnes of garbage per day. This has resulted in break down of our machineries and vehicles. The continuous rains are making the situation worse. Hence, we request you to kindly restrict the supply of garbage to a maximum of 400 tonnes per day (80 lorries) as agreed by us. Otherwise, the whole system of machineries, vehicles, landfill and concrete yard is going to collapse, resulting in complete stoppage of garbage supply,” Sudheendra said in the letter.

Nine months later, on May 27, 2009, Ramky wrote again to the deputy commissioner (health), BBMP to hand over the remaining land to facilitate setting up municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment facility.

“We request you to kindly refer our letter dated March 13, 2009 wherein we have explained the circumstances under which we are forced to dump a part of MSW directly in the landfill. As requested therein, please arrange to handover the balance land. After taking possession of this balance land, we will be able to construct the MSW treatment facility of 600 tonnes per day.

Otherwise, please ensure that the supply of garbage to our plant is restricted to 400 tonnes per day. On meeting any of the above two conditions, we will be able to prevent dumping of garbage directly in the landfill,’’ DK Nagaraj, director, Ramky Energy & Environment Ltd said in the letter.

Meanwhile, as mounds of untreated garbage piled at Mavallipura and surrounding villages like Kurubanahalli, residents of the villages staged a protest against the landfill, blaming the health hazards it had created, for the death of some of the residents. The protests drew public support and drew the backing of many environmental activists.

Under pressure, on July 12, 2012, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) ordered the closure of the compost unit. The KSPCB asked the BBMP to stop dumping garbage at Mavallipura landfill and also asked Ramky Infrastructure Ltd not to receive the waste. It also directed the BBMP to transport unprocessed waste from the composting unit to Mandur landfill site for “scientific” disposal.

However, as if oblivious to the developments, the BBMP on April 26, 2013, approved a proposal to establish a 1000-MTPD waste to energy project in collaboration with M/s Green & Clean Solutions Limited. According to the proposal, the Palike would transport 1,000 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste per day to the site. Further, on May 14, 2013, the BBMP commissioner approved the proposal to establish waste-to-energy unit in the name of Mavallipura Solid Waste Management Pvt Ltd.

However, the BBMP could not transport even a single tonne of garbage to the waste-to-energy unit due to its failure to implement the KSPCB directive to transport the unprocessed waste from Mavallipura landfill.

“We are not sending MSW to Mavallipura landfill as per the high court directive. As of now, we are thinking of treating the existing waste through bioremediation process. We plan to float tenders for this purpose shortly,’’ KT Yatish Kumar, joint commissioner (health), BBMP, told dna.