The Hindu Business Line : Mumbai waste management project yet to gather pace

A COMBINATION of judicial orders, initiatives by the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board and changing attitude from the local industries, has raised a glimmer of hope for India's first total integrated waste management facility in Mumbai to get on to the road of economic viability.

Put into operation in November 2002, the two-lakh tonne capacity Treatment, Storage, Disposal Facility (TSDF) for hazardous industrial wastes, has just about managed to receive 30,000 tonnes or approximately 1,700 tonnes, which is 10-12 per cent of capacity utilisation.

The November 2003 Supreme Court order asking industries to follow the guidelines on hazardous waste management, with responsibility for compliance placed on the local pollution control boards has slightly altered the situation to the advantage of the facility.

``From the coming monsoon, we expect to see an increase to at least 2,000 tonnes/month and improve the operational capability. There is also a change in the outlook of the industries producing hazardous wastes in the city,'' said Mr Vijay Shiraguppi, General Manager, Mumbai Waste Management Ltd (MWML).

MWML is a special purpose company of the Hyderabad-based Ramky Group, specialised in safe disposal of industrial hazardous wastes being generated in State.

MMWL was set up at Taloja, near Panvel in 100 acres of land under the sponsorship of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and is being regulated by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) based on the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989, with amendments in 2000.

The TSDF has been set up to global standards and can cater to the safe and secure disposal of industrial wastes. Of the 2-lakh tonne capacity, 1.2 lakh tonne is for wastes which qualify for direct landfill and about 60,000 tonnes require physical/chemical treatment, stabilisation before being land filled, the rest, 20,000 tonnes need incineration. Maharashtra generates over 10 lakh tonnes of hazardous wastes every year, Mr Shiraguppi told Business Line.

There are over 5,000 industries of various sizes that could be serviced by the project. However, just a couple of hundreds have enrolled as members as of now to hand over the wastes. Interestingly, Ramky Group has taken over a smaller project called the Trans Thane Creek Waste Management Project with a capacity to treat 10,000 tonnes a year, located about 15-20 km from Taloja. The project promoted by the Thane Manufacturers Association was handed over to EcoChem, Mumbai, which in turn struck a joint venture with ChemControl of Denmark.

The Ramky Group has invested over Rs 30 crore in the project. While there is no shortage of industrial hazardous wastes, the project would become economically unviable unless it attracts over a lakh tonnes per year. To achieve this, the company has made several moves including discussions with the Pollution Control Board, MIDC and industrial associations, the company executives here said.

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