Close on the heels of Comptroller & Auditor General’s (CAG) scathing report tabled recently in the legislature, the Maharashtra government proposes to frame a comprehensive biomining policy for the disposal of ever mounting solid waste stored without any scientific processing on dumping grounds across the state. This is necessitated as about 21,867.27 tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated every day in the jurisdiction of 27 municipal corporations, 229 municipal councils, and 128 nagar panchayats.

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The state government last week has set up a six-member committee headed by the executive engineer of the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran to prepare a bio-mining policy and select civic bodies, which have already been shortlisted under the Swachha Maharashtra Mission (urban), to process dumped solid waste through a bio-mining process. The terms of reference of the committee include keeping an eye on the processing of solid waste currently being done through biomining by some urban local bodies.

Besides, the committee will suggest ways to reclaim 80 per cent of the dumping ground after implementing the biomining technique.

The government’s move is crucial as the CAG in its report submitted in August to the state legislature had rapped the government for poor processing facilities for municipal solid waste across Maharashtra.

Urban development department officer told DNA,’’ The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation had taken initiative towards biomining as nearly 9,400 tonnes of solid waste is generated daily in Mumbai of which 6,400 tonnes remain untreated. A similar problem is faced by other urban local bodies too. Therefore, the government proposes to bring out a biomining policy wherein micro-organisms are sprayed on the waste and land is reclaimed and can be reused. Biomining helps eliminate methane production.’’

He informed that the committee will conduct an in-depth study of the biomining technique already implemented in various states and abroad.

The officer also informed that the government has already received a detailed report from 81 urban local bodies on the topic of solid waste management and they are under various stages of implementation.

WASTE MATTERS

  • About 21,867.27 tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated in the jurisdiction of 27 municipal corporations, 229 municipal councils and 128 nagar panchayats daily.  
  • This waste is stored on dumping grounds without any processing, leading to methane production.