Mumbai: The BMC has invited a Rs 2,368-crore tender to clear 185 lakh tonnes of legacy waste from Mumbai’s Deonar dumping ground using biomining technology, aiming to reclaim 110 hectares of land. This move aligns with the state government’s allocation of 124 acres land parcels of the dumping site to facilitate housing development under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP).

Deonar dumping ground, one of Mumbai's oldest and largest, has been operational since 1927 and is burdened with towering heaps of waste. Spanning 311 acres, it remains a major environmental challenge. Currently, Kanjurmarg serves as the city's only active landfill. Under state directives, the BMC plans to clear 110 hectares (271 acres) of the Deonar site.

"The Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant at Deonar has entered its final setup phase. The land designated for both the WTE and bio-CNG plants will be cleared, along with the land parcel allocated to the DRP," said an official.

Biomining will decompose biodegradable waste using air, sunlight, and microorganisms, leaving behind non-biodegradable materials for recycling or treatment. Around 185 lakh tonnes of waste will be cleared from Deonar, using 1,200 vehicles to remove 2,300 tonnes daily, with the work expected to be completed in three years.

Meanwhile, the WTE plant contract, with a capacity of 600 metric tonnes, has been awarded to M/s Chennai MSW Pvt. Ltd. for Rs 648 crore. The project includes a 40-month design and build phase and 15 years of operation and maintenance, expected to be operational by October 2025.

Currently, Mumbai generates about 7,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, equivalent to a three-storey building in volume. The Gorai and Mulund landfills have been scientifically closed as part of the city's sustainable waste management efforts.