Ludhiana civil body mulling new bio-CNG plant tender for scientific disposal of 200 TPD bio-waste

The Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana or MCL is mulling to float come up with tenders for the disposal of 200 tonnes per day (TPD) of wet waste in the industrial city through the establishment of a bio-CNG plant.

This marks the second attempt to tender the project after the previous contracting firm forfeited the earnest money of ₹42 lakh and was subsequently barred from future contracts. The contracting firm had backed out after the tender was finalized, citing a miscalculation in the amount promised to the civic body over a 20-year period.

Initially, the contracting firm had committed to managing the waste through the bio-CNG plant and paying Rs 132 crore to the MCL as land lease or royalty. However, officials expressed doubts about the feasibility of these claims and requested further justification from the contractor.

As per reports, the MCL has taken steps for the issuance of new tenders and the forfeited amount from the previous contracting firm has already been credited to the MCL’s account. The tendering process for the new bio-CNG project has officially begun.

Under the upcoming bio-CNG project, the MCL will provide land to the selected firm, which will generate revenue by producing and selling gas from the waste. The proposed plant aims to produce approximately 8,000 cubic meters of gas daily.

Additionally, the MCL has initiated bio-remediation at the Jainpur and Jamalpur dump sites to address long-standing waste management issues. Officials emphasized their commitment to resolving the city’s garbage challenges. The MCL had invited bids for the development of a waste-to-biogas plant at the Jamalpur site in Ludhiana in a quest to end the problem of waste in the industrial city and also generate green energy out of it.

Although, the Punjab Government had announced earlier that it will inaugurate seven Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects by the end of 2024.