Cleanliness at waste-to-energy plant a priority, says Energy Minister

Energy Minister K.J. George to convene meeting for waste-to-energy plant maintenance and odour control in Bidadi.

In a bid to prioritise cleanliness and maintenance of the waste-to-energy plant at Bidadi, a meeting of senior officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Energy Department will be convened soon, Energy Minister K.J. George said on Tuesday after an inspection of the power generation unit.

“We will hold a meeting with senior officials from the BBMP and the Energy Department, along with officials from the private company managing the unit, to discuss the issues with the waste and the operation of the unit by private contractors,” he said.

With many residents claiming that foul odour was emanating from the plant, the Minister, stressing the urgency for action, said, “We must act swiftly to ensure that the foul odour does not cause inconvenience to the nearby residents. I instructed the officials to use odour control chemicals daily. Waste is transported in lorries from various parts of the city to the power generation unit, where it is utilised. There have been complaints that foul odour arises when the lorries unload the waste and return.”

He said the lorries must be cleaned before they leave the plant premises after unloading garbage.

“Recently, an accident occurred at the power generation unit, resulting in the loss of five lives. The victims’ families are our top priority, and the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) will soon distribute compensation of ₹5 lakh each to them. Additionally, the company operating the unit will also provide appropriate compensation,” Mr. George said.