Mumbai: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has issued a Consent to Operate (Part) for the Deonar legacy-waste biomining project on August 21.The approval covers biomining operations at a permitted capacity of 15,000 metric tonnes per day and relates to the scientific treatment of about 18.5 million tonnes (185 lakh tonnes) of legacy waste, with the larger objective of reclaiming approximately 110 hectares of land at Deonar. Mumbai generates around 7,000 metric tons of solid waste daily.Through the biomining process, the accumulated waste will be separated into different useful and residual fractions. These include Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), finished compost, recyclable materials and rejected/residual material. Recovered recyclables such as plastic, glass, metals, rags and cloth are to be channelled for authorised recycling, while suitable non-recyclable plastic may be used for road-making, RDF units or cement plants.The process is also intended to recover and reuse material wherever technically suitable. Earthy fines and soil-like fractions may be used for landscaping, gardening, road medians and development of green areas. Suitable sand, gravel, stones and concrete fractions may be reused in road works and construction-related applications. The aim is to maximise recovery and beneficial reuse while reducing the quantity that ultimately requires disposal; only inert and residual material is to be sent to a scientific sanitary landfill.MPCB has also prescribed environmental safeguards for the project. These include measures relating to dust, odour, fire, methane risk, slope stability and leachate management, along with periodic ambient-air-quality monitoring. Covered vehicles are required for transportation, and specific precautions are to be taken during the monsoon so that waste or eroded material does not enter nearby drains or adjoining areas.The Deonar dumping ground, spread over nearly 120 hectares, is one of the oldest and largest dumping grounds in India, receiving waste since 1927. Despite partial capping large portions of legacy waste continue to pose environmental and public health risks, including periodic fires, methane emissions and leachate seepage into nearby areas.BMC had invited bids for the legacy waste remediation project on May 14, 2025. A pre-bid meeting was held on May 23, which was attended by representatives of 21 companies, while nine firms subsequently submitted queries regarding the tender.The civic body extended the bid submission deadline three times after floating the tender. The original deadline of June 3, 2025 was first extended to June 23, then to July 1 and finally to July 4.When the bids were opened on July 8, three companies emerged as the main contenders — Navayuga Engineering Ltd, Re Sustainability and HG Infra Engineering Ltd. Navayuga Engineering subsequently emerged as the lowest bidder on July 18. The BMC finally approved the contract of Navayuga Engineering Ltd at a rate 3% above the estimated cost.
