The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has removed 1042 metric tons of debris and 139 metric tons of waste through a deep cleaning drive in the city till December 15. Over the weekend, the drive was conducted in Byculla, Parel, Ghatkopar, and Chembur.
For the drive, about 3700 civic workers took part. Along with workers 33 JCBs, 148 dumpers, 21 compactors, 69 water tankers, 06 suction machines, 03 litter picker machines, 09 road sweeping machines, and 07 misting machines were deployed.
The municipal workers took down unauthorised advertising boards and abandoned cars. Maintaining parks and gardens, cleaning walkways and roads, and maintaining employee colonies and public restrooms were also included in the drive. On Sunday, December 17, in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the drive started at 7 am at Amrut Nagar Circle in Ghatkopar and ended at Maharana Pratap Chowk in Byculla. The drive's route was Amrut Nagar Circle in Ghatkopar - Kamraj Nagar - Rajawadi Hospital - Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Garden - Tilak Nagar - Bhairav Nath mandir - Maharana Pratap Chowk in Byculla.The civic body is planning to introduce biomethanation plants in five of the biggest civic-run hospitals of the megapolis. Each plant is expected to generate energy from over two metric tonnes of wet organic waste on a daily basis. The officials said that once treated the biogas will be used to fuel kitchens within hospital premises.
Each plant, which occupies more than 2000 square feet, is said to have cost around INR 1 crore. The civic organisation has started the procurement process and requested bidders to submit proposals for the plant's installation and one-year upkeep.