Scientific waste disposal to make Jammu garbage-free in 6 months

Jammu’s waste management project to bring relief and revenue

JAMMU: Jammu city is on the cusp of a significant transformation as it is working toward becoming garbage-free, with plans to produce compressed biogas (CBG) from waste.
This initiative not only promotes environmental sustainability but also generates revenue by selling the gas to oil companies at Rs 46 per kilogram. Additionally, fertilizers will be produced from 10% of the waste, contributing further to ecological benefits and adding substantial income to the Jammu Municipal Corporation's (JMC) accounts.
The solid waste management project, located in Kot Bhalwal on the city's outskirts, is central to this transformation. This project aims to scientifically dispose of approximately 350 metric tons of waste daily, significantly exceeding the 300 metric tons currently reaching the site from Jammu city.
With the project expected to be operational within six months, the city is poised to see cleaner surroundings and an efficient waste management system.
In the first phase, substantial progress has been made. Decades-old garbage heaps have been cleared, the land leveled, and a large park constructed. Two weighing scales for garbage have been installed, and the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is fully operational.
The work on CBG production is projected to conclude by January 2025. CEF Jammu Energy Private has also completed the boundary wall for the facility, enhancing its structural readiness.
The project is being developed under the supervision of the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), which is constructing a municipal solid waste processing plant with a capacity of 350 tons per day.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the project virtually in August 2021. With an investment of ₹85 crore, NAFED is implementing this project in compliance with the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board’s regulations. The JMC has committed Rs 20 crore to the project, of which Rs 8.39 crore has already been disbursed.
CBG is a clean and renewable fuel derived through anaerobic digestion of organic waste, including agricultural residues, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste, and sewage. With approximately 90% methane content, it is a high-energy fuel suitable for cooking, vehicular use, and other purposes. The gas's base price is Rs 46 per kilogram, with an added GST of Rs 2.30, bringing the total to Rs 48.30 per kilogram. Prices are reviewed every three years by oil companies.
The project also addresses a long-standing issue faced by the villagers of Kot Bhalwal and surrounding areas, who have endured foul odors from waste dumping. The scientific disposal process promises to mitigate these concerns, ensuring better living conditions for local residents.
Previously, protests and legal actions were common due to the environmental challenges posed by waste dumping in the area.
Currently, partial waste disposal occurs at Material Recovery Facilities in Bandhurakkh and Bhagwati Nagar, with the remaining sent to Gol Gujral. At Kot Bhalwal, the facility includes a 150 TPD MRF and a 50 TPD windrow composting unit, contributing to the total capacity of 350 TPD.
This ambitious project marks a major step toward sustainable urban development, environmental conservation, and improved quality of life for Jammu's residents.

Updated On 11/27/2024 12:09:01 AM