Chandigarh admin clears decks for new technology for waste-to-energy plant

The Chandigarh administration has cleared decks for setting up new technology to process the city’s waste. With this, companies can now come forward to set up a waste-to-energy plant in the city.

The long-pending task of tackling the garbage of Chandigarh in an efficient manner finally seems to be effective on the ground with the new solid waste processing plant taking up shape. The Chandigarh administration on Thursday gave a nod to 'Expression of Interest' (EOI) and has called out to companies to come and set up such a plant in the city.

UT Advisor Dharam Pal gave a nod to invite the EOI following which a Request for Proposal will be sent out. The EOI will help the administration determine various technologies and models offered by players in the market.

Giving approval to EOI, UT Advisor Dharam Pal told the Indian Express that the administration has finalised the EOI, which is to be called for the waste-to-energy plant. Pal said that EOI shall be put up online and firms in foreign countries and across the country can participate to set up its best technology in the city.

The Municipal Corporation is expected to invite the EOI on Monday from various agencies to set up a wet and dry waste processing plant. The agencies will be given a time of 21 days to submit various options, following which the Request for Proposal will be sent out, Hindustan Times said in a report.

The location of the new plant, which is expected to be spread over 20 acres, is yet to be finalised. The civic body is open to any technology for the plant, MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra told the Tribune.

The firm running the plant may produce biomethane, compressed natural gas (CNG) and also carry out composting, the report said. Under the revenue-sharing model, the civic body will give 20 acres of land at a token cost on lease for 20 years. The firm will incur expenses to set up the plant and will also own by-products and carbon credits from it. A portion of profit earned from it will be shared with the MC.

Last year, in July, during the House Meeting, a decision was taken that the dry waste produced in the city will be processed with waste-to-energy technology. The civic body had then sent a letter to various reputed engineering colleges in Punjab, requesting their financial quotation and preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and a proposal for the project. The work was given to IIT-Roopnagar for Rs 26.77 crore.