CM Fadnavis Directs Task Forces To Fast-Track Waste-To-CBG Projects Across Maharashtra

Mumbai, October 13: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed that task forces be established to facilitate the setting up of projects for producing Compressed Biogas (CBG) from waste, with the twin objectives of making cities in the state garbage-free and promoting CBG production. He directed that projects be established at suitable locations in accordance with the state’s CBG policy.

Chief Minister Fadnavis reviewed the proposed projects at a meeting on garbage-free cities and Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects held at his official residence, Varsha. Minister of State Madhuri Misal, Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, and Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department K. H. Govindraj, among others, were present at the meeting.

On behalf of Keva Green, Executive Director Vrinda Thakur, Managing Director Kedar Vaze and Director Nandan Vaze presented the CBG project implemented using waste in Nagpur and shared information on establishing similar projects across the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Fadnavis said that projects needed to be planned by taking into account the quantity of waste, availability of land, suitability of technology and distance from gas pipelines. He said that the implementation process should be finalised with the participation of companies operating in this sector, oil companies and local self-government bodies. He also stated that these projects would help municipal corporations save expenditure incurred on waste collection and give impetus to the objective of making cities garbage-free.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region faces a significant waste management challenge. Therefore, the possibility of setting up such projects should be explored in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar and Kalyan-Dombivli areas, as well as in the Hinjawadi and Chakan areas of Pune, the Chief Minister said. He directed that concrete steps be taken towards making cities across the state garbage-free by prioritising scientific waste management, effective use of available technologies and proper planning for land required for the projects.

The meeting discussed the experience of the Nagpur project, setting up projects through a cluster-based approach, waste segregation, land availability, connectivity to gas pipelines and the use of various technologies. The possibility of developing a cluster model that includes nearby cities for processing waste generated in municipal corporation areas was also discussed. It was noted that primary segregation of waste within cities, followed by further processing at suitable locations outside city limits, could reduce pressure on land within urban areas. Establishing projects near gas pipelines could also help reduce the cost of transporting the gas produced.

Director of the Swachh Maharashtra Mission Navnath Wath, BPCL Chief General Manager Indrajit Singh, General Manager Santosh Varshne and WTT’s Tjerd van den Berg were present at the meeting. Municipal commissioners from across the state participated in the meeting through videoconferencing.