Bhubaneswar, Sep 25: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a transformative waste management initiative on Thursday, revealing plans to convert urban waste into energy and charcoal.

Speaking at the “Swachhata Hi Seva” event organized by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Old Town, the CM emphasized the state’s commitment to sustainable urban development.

Bhubaneswar currently generates around 800 tonnes of waste daily, including 400 tonnes of wet waste and 390 tonnes of dry waste.

To address the growing waste challenge, the government is planning to set up decentralized waste processing units, including waste-to-energy plants, biogas composting facilities, and waste-to-briquette or charcoal plants.

CM Majhi highlighted that Self Help Groups (SHGs) are being trained to manage waste segregation and processing. While some resistance has been observed locally, the government remains focused on turning the city’s waste into a resource.

A biogas composting plant tender has already been finalized, and preliminary discussions for a briquette plant are complete. Land has been identified in Palasuni for the facility, though financial hurdles remain. Once resolved, construction will begin, with a target to complete the plant within six months.

The waste-to-energy plant is envisioned as an industrial-scale project, with consultations underway with experts and consultants. The plan includes processing waste from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Jatani at a centralized location. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently being prepared.

According to initial estimates, converting 1,000 to 2,000 tonnes of waste could generate up to 25 MW of energy. The government also plans to extend this model to other municipal and panchayat areas in the future.

This initiative aligns with Odisha’s broader goals of clean urban growth, energy sustainability, and empowering local communities.