The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has granted a partial Consent to Operate for the ambitious biomining project at Mumbai’s Deonar dumping ground, paving the way for the scientific treatment of the site’s massive legacy waste.
The approval, issued on August 21, permits biomining operations at a capacity of 15,000 metric tonnes per day. The project aims to process around 18.5 million tonnes (185 lakh tonnes) of accumulated legacy waste at the nearly 120-hectare dumping ground.
Under the biomining process, the old waste will be excavated, processed and segregated into various categories, including Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), compost, recyclable material and residual waste. Recoverable materials such as plastic, glass, metals, rags and cloth will be sent to authorised recycling facilities. Suitable non-recyclable plastic may also be utilised for road construction, RDF plants and cement manufacturing.
The project also focuses on maximum recovery and reuse of usable material. Earthy fines and soil-like material may be utilised for landscaping, gardening, road medians and green spaces. Suitable sand, gravel, stones and concrete can be reused in road and construction works. Only inert and unusable residual material will be transported to a scientific sanitary landfill.
MPCB has prescribed several environmental safeguards, including controls for dust, odour, fire hazards, methane emissions, slope stability and leachate. Regular ambient air-quality monitoring will also be undertaken. Waste transportation must be carried out using covered vehicles, while additional precautions will be required during the monsoon to prevent contaminated material from entering drains or nearby areas.
Deonar, one of India’s oldest and largest dumping grounds, has been receiving waste since 1927. Despite efforts to cap parts of the site, large quantities of legacy waste continue to create environmental and public health concerns, including fires, methane emissions and leachate seepage.
The BMC floated the tender for legacy waste remediation on May 14, 2025. After multiple extensions, bids were opened on July 8, with Navayuga Engineering Ltd, Re Sustainability and HG Infra Engineering Ltd emerging as key contenders. Navayuga Engineering was declared the lowest bidder on July 18, and the BMC subsequently approved its contract at 3% above the estimated project cost.
Source: The Times of India
