The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has hit a temporary roadblock in its plan to significantly expand the capital's waste processing capabilities. On Wednesday, the civic body's standing committee decided to postpone a crucial proposal to sign a supplementary deed with the existing concessionaire for the expansion of the Okhla waste-to-energy (WTE) plant. This delay could potentially impact the project's timeline.
Details of the Proposed Expansion
The deferred proposal is central to a major capacity enhancement at the Okhla facility. It seeks to increase the plant's processing capacity from the current operational level of 1,950 metric tonnes per day (MT) to 2,550 MT daily. Furthermore, the plan includes a provision for a future extension, which could take the ultimate capacity to as much as 2,950 MT per day. The primary objective of this expansion is to enable the daily processing of legacy waste accumulating in south Delhi. The MCD has set a target completion date of March 2027 for this upgrade.
Officials clarified that the supplementary deed is essential to formally incorporate the revised capacity, new implementation timelines, and any additional responsibilities assigned to the concessionaire. They confirmed that the necessary environmental clearance for expanding the Okhla WTE facility from 1,950 MT to 2,950 MT was granted in 2023. Additionally, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued orders concerning the project cost and a tentative tariff structure. Once operational at full expanded capacity, the plant's power generation is expected to jump from 23 MW to 40 MW.
Reason for Delay and Next Steps
The decision to postpone was taken because the standing committee members sought a more detailed briefing from the concerned department. Inderjeet Sehrawat, a BJP councillor and member of the standing committee, stated that the panel required greater clarity on the proposal. He indicated that approval is likely to be granted in the committee's subsequent meeting. Following clearance from the standing committee, the proposal will be presented before the MCD House for final approval.
Broader Context of Delhi's Waste Crisis
This capacity enhancement is a critical component of the MCD's action plan to bridge the city's massive waste-processing gap. The plan is being implemented in compliance with directives from the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Delhi generates a staggering 11,500 MT of municipal solid waste every day. However, the current processing capacity across all facilities is only about 7,500 MT per day, leaving a significant deficit.
While three WTE plants—Okhla, Ghazipur, and Narela-Bawana—are currently operational, their combined capacity remains insufficient to handle the city's daily waste output. Officials emphasized that both the Okhla plant and the newer Tehkhand plant are vital to easing the pressure on Delhi's overburdened landfill sites. The Tehkhand plant, which became operational in 2023, is itself slated for an expansion that will allow it to process an additional 1,000 MT of waste daily. The deadline for the Tehkhand expansion has been set for December 2027, aiming to boost its capacity from 2,000 MT to 3,000 MT per day.
The delay in approving the Okhla plant's supplementary deed underscores the procedural challenges in scaling up essential urban infrastructure. The coming weeks will be crucial to see if the standing committee's queries are resolved swiftly, allowing the project to stay on track for its March 2027 deadline and contribute to solving Delhi's persistent waste management crisis.
