BMC Grapples With Sludge Management Amid Mumbai Sewage Plant Upgrades

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is confronting a major challenge in managing the large quantities of sludge that will be produced by the city’s upgraded sewage treatment plants (STPs). The civic body is currently upgrading all eight STPs across Mumbai, with the project expected to be completed between 2026 and 2028. Once fully operational, these plants will treat approximately 2,400 million litres of sewage daily.

Following treatment, an estimated 23 to 24 per cent of this volume will convert into sludge, presenting a substantial disposal issue. It is anticipated that around 500 tonnes of sludge will be generated daily, which requires scientific and environmentally safe treatment to prevent soil and land pollution.“At the Colaba plant alone, which will process 37 million litres daily, roughly nine tonnes of sludge will be produced each day.

This cannot simply be disposed of in the open,” explained a civic official. The BMC is currently evaluating suitable technologies for effective sludge management. “We are exploring viable solutions that could also generate revenue from sludge treatment. However, if such technology is unavailable, we will have to bear the costs of treatment while aiming for a cost-effective approach,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar.

A 2020 report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) highlights that untreated sludge dumped openly can lead to severe soil and water contamination. Conversely, treated sludge can be repurposed for agricultural use, utilised in cement kilns, or converted into energy through waste-to-energy plants.The STP upgradation project was launched in 2022 with an estimated budget of ₹27,309 crore.

The Bhandup, Ghatkopar, and Versova plants are slated for completion by 2026, Bandra and Dharavi by 2027, and the Malad plant is expected to be ready by 2028.

Source: Mid-day

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