Mangaluru: The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) is likely to extend the completion deadline for the large-scale biomining project undertaken to clear legacy waste dumped at the Pachanady landfill site, citing delays caused by rainfall and initial operational hurdles. Despite progress in recent months, officials said a substantial portion of the accumulated waste is yet to be processed, necessitating an extension of the contract period.
As per an estimate prepared by the MCC in 2019, more than 9 lakh tonnes of legacy waste had accumulated at Pachanady, spread across a stretch of nearly 2 km. The massive garbage mound has long been a matter of concern for residents, environmentalists, and the judiciary, especially following the devastating garbage slide in August 2019.
Biomining contract and progress so far
To address the issue, the MCC awarded a contract in December 2022 to the National Federation of Farmers’ Procurement, Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Ltd (NACOF) for clearing the legacy waste through biomining. The project was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 56 crore, with the agency given a time frame of 18 months to complete the work.
According to MCC officials, although some progress has been made, around 6.5 lakh tonnes of legacy waste still remain at the landfill site. This means that only a fraction of the total waste identified in the original estimate has been processed so far.
Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV, who is also the administrator of the MCC, said the work is continuing, albeit at a slower pace than initially planned. “There was some initial delay in the execution of the project. However, the work is now being expedited,” he said.
Delays due to operational and weather-related issues
Officials attributed the delay to multiple factors, including issues related to payments, electricity supply, and other basic facilities required at the site. “The problems related to payment to the agency have been resolved, and issues concerning electricity and infrastructure have also been addressed,” the deputy commissioner said.
Another major challenge has been the monsoon season. Biomining work cannot be carried out effectively for nearly six months each year due to heavy rainfall, which affects both safety and efficiency. “Since the work cannot be taken up for almost six months because of rains, it has become inevitable to extend the contract period,” Darshan HV explained.
MCC officials indicated that a formal decision on extending the deadline is expected to be taken soon, keeping in view the remaining volume of waste and the realistic time required for completion.
Background of the Pachanady garbage tragedy
The urgency of clearing the Pachanady landfill stems from the tragic garbage slide that occurred in August 2019. The incident resulted in the destruction of agricultural land and at least 27 houses in and around the landfill area, leaving several families displaced and causing widespread public outrage.
Following the tragedy, the MCC relocated the affected families and initiated measures to stabilise the landfill. The incident also drew the attention of the Karnataka High Court, which took a serious view of the corporation’s failure to scientifically manage and clear the legacy waste at the site.
The court’s observations added pressure on the civic body to take concrete steps towards long-term waste management solutions, including biomining and scientific capping of landfill areas.
Waste from surrounding gram panchayats
Even as the MCC struggles to clear the accumulated waste, Pachanady continues to receive fresh waste not only from Mangaluru city but also from neighbouring gram panchayats. Waste from at least five adjoining gram panchayats is currently being transported to the Pachanady landfill.
In addition, the zilla panchayat and several MLAs have reportedly requested the MCC to accept waste from more gram panchayats that are unable to operate their own solid waste management facilities.
Addressing concerns about the increasing load on Pachanady, Darshan HV said the district administration is guided by the larger objective of cleanliness. “The district cannot discriminate when it comes to cleanliness. The city corporation accepts waste from gram panchayats as the ultimate aim is to keep the district clean,” he said.
Environmental and civic concerns
Environmental activists have repeatedly raised concerns that accepting waste from multiple local bodies without proportionate expansion of processing capacity could further delay the clearance of legacy waste and pose environmental risks. Residents living near the landfill have also expressed fears of a repeat of the 2019 tragedy if the waste mound is not cleared in a time-bound and scientific manner.
MCC officials, however, maintain that biomining remains the most viable solution for dealing with the accumulated waste and reclaiming land at Pachanady for safer use in the future.
Conclusion
With over 6.5 lakh tonnes of legacy waste still remaining at the Pachanady landfill, the MCC’s decision to extend the biomining contract appears increasingly likely. While officials insist that operational issues have been resolved and work is being accelerated, the scale of the task and weather-related limitations continue to pose challenges. As the civic body balances court directives, environmental concerns, and district-wide waste management needs, timely completion of the project will remain crucial to preventing future disasters and restoring public confidence.