Nine Dead, Yet Another Waste Project at Moshi ?

• ₹1,400-crore Bio-CNG project pushed despite local opposition; last-minute approval move raises questions over civic administration’s haste

Pimpri : Even before the grief over the death of nine workers in the Moshi waste depot accident has subsided, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) administration is reportedly moving ahead with a 375-tonne-capacity Bio-CNG project at the same site. The proposed project, estimated at around ₹1,400 crore, has drawn strong opposition from Moshi residents, who have questioned the need to add another major waste-processing project at a site that has already witnessed a fatal accident.

Opposition leaders and residents have alleged that the project is being pushed despite strong resistance from local representatives. Questions have also been raised over the alleged move to bring the proposal before the Standing Committee as a last-minute item instead of placing it on the regular weekly agenda for detailed discussion and scrutiny.

The accident at the Moshi waste depot, involving the collapse of an unauthorised administrative building at the Waste-to-Energy project, claimed the lives of nine workers about a month ago. Despite the incident, the civic administration is now preparing to implement another project at the same location. The proposed Bio-CNG facility will process 375 tonnes of wet household waste to produce CNG, with tipping charges reportedly set at a significantly higher rate than those applicable to the existing project.

The concept and process for the proposed project were prepared through consultant Tandon, while allegations have been made that former chief engineer Sanjay Kulkarni, who has been held responsible in connection with the accident, had brought the project before the administration. PCMC Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi has approved implementation of the project through SMC Infra Pvt. Ltd. for a period of 16 years and nine months.

Questions have also been raised over the fact that the same contractor is already operating a CNG-generation project based on hotel waste and is now reportedly being considered for the new Bio-CNG project. While the existing project reportedly involves tipping charges of ₹1,050 to ₹1,600 per tonne, the proposed Bio-CNG project carries a tipping charge of ₹3,661 per tonne.

Residents have alleged that the contractor would generate CNG from waste and earn crores through its sale, while the municipal corporation would continue to make substantial payments towards waste processing. They have therefore questioned whether the project is financially beneficial to PCMC or would instead place an additional burden on public funds.

The proposed plant is expected to generate around eight tonnes of CNG per day, which would be sold in the market. Residents have alleged that while the contractor would benefit from the sale of CNG, the civic body would have to bear substantial tipping charges, resulting in a financial burden on taxpayers.

Meanwhile, the proposal is reportedly likely to be brought before the Standing Committee as a last-minute item rather than through the regular agenda process. With nine workers having lost their lives in the Moshi waste depot accident, residents have questioned the urgency behind introducing another major project at the same location and demanded complete transparency regarding its financial and technical viability.

“The waste burden at the Moshi depot must be reduced. After such a serious accident claimed the lives of innocent workers, why is another Bio-CNG project being brought to the same location? We strongly oppose the project and will mobilise Moshi residents against it. If a Bio-CNG project has to be implemented, it should be considered at the Punawale waste depot site. We will strongly oppose any attempt to bring it to Moshi.”

— Kavita Alhat, City President, NCP Women’s Wing, Pimpri-Chinchwad

“As residents of Moshi, we strongly oppose the proposed Bio-CNG project at the waste depot. Even after nine innocent workers lost their lives in the accident, attempting to impose another multi-crore project at the same site amounts to adding to the pain of Moshi residents. If the administration attempts to implement the project, Moshi residents will take to the streets and launch a strong protest.”

— Parshuram Alhat, Moshi Resident