Experts Flag Key Issues in Bengaluru’s Leachate Treatment Plan
Bengaluru’s ambitious approach to managing the hazardous issue of leachate, a byproduct of solid waste decomposition, has come under scrutiny. Despite the city’s growing emphasis on addressing waste management challenges in alignment with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules of 2024, experts have raised concerns about critical shortcomings in the city’s leachate treatment proposal. While the plan aims to integrate global best practices, these experts argue that gaps in planning, environmental considerations, and stakeholder involvement could undermine the effectiveness and sustainability of the initiative.
The Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) tasked RITES Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, to develop a treatment strategy for leachate at the Mittaganahalli and Kannur landfill sites. With an estimated treatment cost of ₹553 crore to process 3,306 million litres of leachate over three to four years, the project’s scale appears impressive. However, a detailed evaluation of the proposal has raised significant alarms. Ramprasad, a solid waste management expert, highlighted a major issue: the lack of urgency in addressing the public health risks associated with untreated leachate. As untreated leachate can seep into groundwater, it poses a serious threat to nearby communities, potentially leading to waterborne diseases. This concern, however, has been inadequately addressed in the report, missing an essential component of proactive public health risk management.
The absence of comprehensive environmental baseline studies is another major flaw, according to the evaluation. Without baseline data on soil, air, and groundwater quality around landfill sites, it is impossible to accurately measure the long-term environmental impact of the leachate treatment process. Such data is crucial not only for effective monitoring but also to ensure that any treatment methods deployed do not inadvertently harm local ecosystems. Case studies from other cities, such as Hyderabad’s water contamination crisis, illustrate the importance of considering public health and environmental factors when planning waste management solutions.
Technological concerns also dominate the evaluation. The current treatment plan relies heavily on reverse osmosis (RO) technology, which, while efficient, is highly energy-intensive. It is estimated that operating the RO units will cost approximately ₹3.42 crore per month, adding to the financial burden of the project. Moreover, the treatment process generates concentrated reject streams, yet the plan lacks a clear strategy for managing these byproducts. In a densely populated city like Bengaluru, the proposed use of 12 acres for evaporation ponds is impractical. Experts recommend adopting a hybrid approach, combining RO with more compact, energy-efficient methods powered by renewable energy sources, which could help mitigate costs and improve overall treatment efficiency.
Furthermore, experts argue that the financial model of the project requires significant revision. The current proposal does not include provisions for dismantling costs once treatment is complete, nor does it account for inflationary adjustments over the project’s lifespan. Additionally, there is no strategy for monetising by-products such as treated water and sludge. The opportunity to convert sludge into fertiliser or reuse treated water for industrial purposes could enhance the financial sustainability of the project. Lastly, the social aspect of the plan has been criticised for its lack of stakeholder engagement. There has been minimal public consultation, leaving local communities unaware of the project’s goals, its potential benefits, and the long-term impacts it could have on their environment and public health.
From a sustainability perspective, these critical gaps in the leachate treatment plan present a challenge to Bengaluru’s ambitions of becoming a model for effective waste management. The city’s efforts must prioritise not only technological efficiency but also long-term environmental sustainability. This includes ensuring the protection of groundwater resources, minimising energy consumption, and creating strategies for the reuse of treated water and sludge. Furthermore, the involvement of local communities and the incorporation of public health risk assessments are essential for the project’s success. If these issues are not addressed, Bengaluru’s initiative to combat leachate pollution may fall short of its sustainability goals, posing risks to both the environment and public health.
