In a move aimed at increasing Delhi’s capacity to process fresh waste, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is setting up three new waste-processing plants at Okhla, Singhola and Ghazipur, along with a 300-TPD (tonnes per day) biogas plant at Ghazipur. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday laid the foundation stones for the three plants and the biogas facility, virtually from the Okhla landfill site and carried out a site inspection as well.

Delhi generates around 13,500 tonnes of municipal waste every day, while MCD currently processes around 60 per cent of the waste generated in the city. The three new plants will add 2,900 TPD of fresh-waste processing capacity, helping bridge the gap between the waste generated and the quantity being scientifically processed. The Okhla plant will have a capacity of 1,400 TPD, while the Singhola and Ghazipur plants will process 800 TPD and 700 TPD, respectively.

The civic body’s survey identified approximately 125,000 cattle across Delhi, which generate roughly 1,500 tons of dung daily. MCD was directed by central and state authorities to intercept this waste and prevent it from entering city drains and polluting the Yamuna. A 300-TPD biogas plant for biodegradable waste is being set up at Ghazipur to prevent this waste from entering and polluting Yamuna.