Mumbai: Nearly six weeks after finalising the lowest bidder for the Deonar bioremediation project, BMC is still locked in negotiations to bring costs in line with its estimate for scientifically treating the 185 lakh tonnes of legacy waste.Navayuga Engineering Ltd had quoted Rs 2,540 crore, 7.29% above BMC’s estimate of Rs 2,368 crore in July, beating HG Infra (11.83%) and Re Sustainability (24.8%).Despite two rounds of talks, BMC has not managed to get Navayuga Engineering to match its estimate. The civic body has now decided to place a proposal before the municipal commissioner with Navayuga’s revised rate, which is lower than its initial bid but still higher than BMC’s benchmark. If the commissioner rejects the proposal, the civic body may have to scrap the process and retender, taking the exercise, which was underway since May, back to square one.A BMC official privy to the process said, “In the past too, contracts have been given though they were above estimates. Also retendering it wouldn’t necessarily mean that BMC can get a company to match its estimate.”Deonar bioremediation project is among the largest tenders floated in recent years by BMC for solid waste management. The contract period is set for three years, which includes the periods of mobilisation works and monsoon. Mobilisation works are expected to take at least six months as the height of the waste at some spots goes up to 40m. Also just adjacent to the landfill is a creek and the fear of a mountain of waste crashing down into it cannot be negated, said officials. Further, NOCs from several departments, including Coastal Regulatory Zone, forest department, and mangrove cell, would be needed as the land is an eco sensitive zone.In Oct 2024, the state cabinet had a proposal to hand over a portion of Deonar dumping ground — one of the oldest and most toxic landfills in the country — for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. Subsequently, the state govt directed BMC to clear 124 acres of the 311-acre Deonar landfill, which currently has close to two crore tonnes of legacy waste in it.Legacy waste is that which accumulates when uncontrolled and unregulated dumping of waste continues for decades on a barren piece of land, mostly on the outskirts, which then becomes part of a city due to urbanisation.
