As per this project, garbage at the dumping ground will be scientifically developed as per the apex court's order to the civic body to manage solid waste. The project will also generate revenue for NMMC.

The agreement has been facilitated by the UK Trade and Investment.

The agreement was signed at Turbhe landfill site in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday by Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nahata and EcoMethane Senior Project Manager Julio Castillo in the presence of British Deputy High Commissioner Vicki Treadell, Colin Drummond, Chairman UK Trade and Investment and members of UK environment mission.

Speaking on the occasion, Castillo said, "The project will help destroy methane gas and eventually generate electricity ."

Dumped garbage gives out methane gas which causes harm to the greenhouse effect. The project will help contain emission of methane.

Methane given out by the garbage will be used to generate electricity Castillo said work . would begin in a month.

Said NMMC Commissioner Nahata, "It is a milestone for the corporation, which is the first in the country to obtain carbon credits from land fill gas. This planned city of 1.2 million people can now look forward to a better and pollution-free environment. We are glad that we are putting garbage to good use by generating power and reducing the greenhouse effect."

British Deputy High Commissioner Treadell said, "We will be taking more like-minded people to the UK to show them our projects there just like we have done with the Navi Mumbai civic body ."

Citing an example, Drummond noted, "In the UK 30 million tonnes of waste is generated every year. Right now, we source 700 MW of energy from it and plans are afoot to source 10,000 MW of power. Since India generates 40 million tonnes of garbage, the potential here is much more than 10,000 MW, which is huge. The 1.5 MW that will be generated from this project is the first step."

 ABOUT THE DEAL 

1.  The project has been bagged by a consortium of four UK-based companies.

2.  NMMC will earn revenue from waste disposal activities in an environmental friendly way without any additional investment.

3.  EcoMethane will make the necessary investment to set up the Landfill Gas.

4. The landfill gas capture will help reduce emission of the hazardous methane gas from the landfill site thereby reducing the foul odour and health hazards for people living in the vicinity. THE LOCAL ANGLE

THE LOCAL ANGLE

1.  The project can be replicated across the country. India has over 300 Class-I cities which need to comply with the Municipal Solid Waste Rules 2000 mandating that civic corporations install scientifically engineered landfill sites.

2. The waste would be treat¦ ed to generate power to supply to Navi Mumbai that has been facing power cuts. The emission of hazardous, methane will be reduced.

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