Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is set to improve its waste management system by adopting European waste-to-energy practices. The corporation has decided to build a 152-acre advanced waste-to-energy treatment plant in Pyara Nagar of Sangareddy, which will use European technology.
The facility has already received necessary approvals for its setup.The plant will have the capacity to generate 15 MW of electricity and produce 270 tonnes of biogas daily. Initially, waste will be transported to the facility in sealed trucks and stored in an underground bunker where it will be separated into wet and dry waste. The dry waste will be used to generate electricity, while the wet waste will be processed to produce compressed biogas (CBG).
To minimise environmental impact, the entire waste treatment process will be conducted in an enclosed shed to prevent the release of unpleasant odours or wastewater into the surrounding area. Advanced biofilters will also be set up to purify the air and remove foul smells. The facility will use dry digestion technology to manage wet waste, helping to reduce leachate production.
In addition to the facility at Pyara Nagar, GHMC is exploring four other potential sites for more waste-to-energy plants. These locations include a 42.2-acre land in Khanapur of Rangareddy district; 100 acres in Lakdaram of Sangareddy; 85 acres in Dundigal; and 200 acres in Malkapur of Choutuppal. These sites, which lie in close proximity to Hyderabad, are being evaluated to see if they are suitable for such projects.
GHMC officials said that the proposed plants will help reduce the burden on the existing waste treatment facility at Jawahar Nagar, which handles 7,500 metric tonnes of waste from GHMC limits and an additional 1,500 metric tonnes from nearby municipalities. “The Pyara Nagar plant, estimated to cost Rs 600 crore, is expected to be operational by 2025. Additionally, a 24 MW waste-to-energy plant is being developed in Jawahar Nagar to further enhance waste management and energy production in the city,” said a senior official in GHMC.