The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh will organize a land earmarking ceremony today at the Dadumajra dumping ground. This event marks a significant step toward establishing a compressed biogas plant at the site.
Ceremony with UT Administrator
UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria will attend the ceremony. His presence highlights the importance of this project for Chandigarh's environmental sustainability efforts.
Transforming a Dumping Site
The ceremony represents a major milestone in transforming the Dadumajra dumping site into an environmentally sustainable facility. For years, this location has been a landfill, but now it is set to become a hub for clean energy production.
Background on Land Reclamation
The land earmarking follows successful bioremediation of legacy waste at Dadumajra. The Municipal Corporation carried out this process in phases starting from 2019.
Through bioremediation, officials reclaimed nearly 28 acres of land. This reclamation reduced environmental hazards and opened new opportunities for scientific use of the area.
Partnership with Indian Oil Corporation
Building on this achievement, the MC has partnered with Indian Oil Corporation Limited to set up the compressed biogas plant. They will use the design-build-finance-operate model for this project.
Importantly, the Municipal Corporation will not make any financial investment. Indian Oil Corporation will cover all operation and maintenance costs.
A memorandum of understanding between MC and IOCL was signed on November 20, 2025. This agreement formalized their collaboration for the biogas plant.
Land Handover Details
During today's ceremony, officials will formally hand over around 10 acres of land to Indian Oil Corporation. The land has been leased at a nominal rate of one rupee per acre per month.
Provision exists for future expansion on an additional five acres. This allows the project to grow if needed in the coming years.
Plant Operations and Capacity
Once operational, the plant will process approximately 200 tonnes per day of segregated organic municipal solid waste. It can handle up to 10 percent mixed waste along with 30 tonnes per day of cow dung.
The estimated project cost stands at around 125 crore rupees. The plant will adhere to Central Pollution Control Board norms throughout its operations.
Environmental Safeguards
As part of environmental protections, Indian Oil Corporation will develop a mandatory 33 percent green belt in the project area. This green space will help mitigate any environmental impacts from the plant.
Expected Benefits
Officials say the compressed biogas plant will play a crucial role in reducing landfill pressure. It will also cut greenhouse gas emissions and produce clean fuel for various uses.
The project should bring long-term environmental and health benefits. Residents living in and around the Dadumajra area should particularly notice these improvements.
This initiative represents Chandigarh's commitment to sustainable waste management and renewable energy production. The city continues to transform problematic sites into productive facilities.
