The following is a summary of our comprehensive urban management plan for southern Mumbai. It is out aim to improve air quality , waste managment, and overall quality of life in all major urban areas, nit just Mumbai. For reasons stated we have chosen Mumbai as our first Clean Air Island. If you would like to help make support this plan, or any of our other projects, please Contact us.
The impact of an Urban Management Program planned as a model to take the experience acquired forward, will make it possible to assess the manageability of the technologies and methods used at the scale of a municipal ward level, so that it can be later be extended to Mumbai, to:
The Urban Management Program, covering the Municipal ‘A’ Ward of about 10sq. km. at the southern tip of Mumbai has been designed as a medium scale model, to act as a bridge between the successful micro level executed in the last 5 years to the city scale macro level. The model will cover recycling 100 tons / day of all public and institutional wet waste of ‘A’ Ward, which will also demonstrate the application of EVs. The program will cover 147 Electric Vehicles comprising of Road Models and tow tractors for waste management, public transport and traffic police towing. The Govt. of India has already extended support to EVs by way of a subsidy of rs.3,50,000 per personnel transport and 80% depreciation write-off for all Electric Vehicle purchase costs, having categorised them as renewable energy equipment. The operation of 126 City Transport and Road EVs for waste transport will be carried out by the relevant authorities at their cost, except for 10 vehicles of public transport and 11 for vermiculture, by the project as a benchmark.
Project costs are Rs.32 crores. Savings projected on these capital and running costs are Rs.213 crores.
Once the Urban Management Program is executed in Mumbai, where the climate and conditions are right, it can be used as a model for applying it anywhere in the world, with suitable modifications.
The attached phased vermiculture plan envisages 3 phases over 5 years, in which concerted efforts could result in all the wet waste being recycled by vermiculture, within the ‘A” Ward.
The first joint vermiculture project for public waste was initiated by BMC and Clean Air Island society in October 2000, for 5 tons/day and has been operated since then, at the Colaba Pumping Station by Clean Air Island. It is now under the Asia Urbs Programme of the European Commission.
7 projects of 5 tons a day each, covering conventional bins of the balance public waste of 35 tons. 3 more projects covering 15 tons will take waste from Natural Bins to be developed.
Land has been identified as per the detailed map.
Waste will be transported by towing the new, lighter designs of waste bins to the nearest site.
Natural bins made of plant hedges are also envisaged as an additional experiment and if successful, can eventually eliminate the need for metal bins which are subject to corrosion. The system of waste clearance here will be through electric tow tractors.
Platform trucks specially fitted with waste shifting mechanisms to be developed on the basis of similar functions established.
10 Electric Tow Tractros/ platform trucks for waste collection have been planned.
Waste collection and vermiculture operations will be carried out by the Clean Air Island Society. Operation costs are part of this project for 2 years.
Municipal ward staff will have the opportunity of training in this vermiculture method through workshops specially organized for them.
Other wards will then have the opportunity of using this as a learning experience and extending the process to their wards for public waste in a planned manner.
Pollution free transportation will also provide the opportunity for them to be trained in its operation and maintenance for economics.
85 projects covering Institutional Waste of 50 tons /day from the institutions listed on page 46 & 47, govt. residential buildings, slums and the defence area are envisaged where the project will provide the setting up of vermiculture and consultancy thereafter, by Clean Air Island.
These bodies have the space, manpower and waste as well as organizing abilities to continue with their own vermiculture, thereafter.
1 Electric Vehicle for waste collection has been planned.Training of the beneficiaries’ staff of 200 will be an important component in the first 2 months.
At the Institutional vermiculture sites, Education & Public Awareness will continue over the next 10 months while monitoring the projects monthly, after its 2 months implementation. This will enable the participants of the Institution to be familiar with the ease of the process and its compost producing capacity. Govt. offices and clubs (specially), can be venues of orientation where the staff and members can learn and see enough to be able to take recycling to their own homes and imbibe the vermiculture recycling message. These institutions can also act as transfer points for home vermiculture kits.
85 workshops, one each per Institution, will be held.
It is hoped that the 10 projects in Part 1 and the 85 projects in Part 2 above, will act as catalysts to the vast majority of residents and hotels in the area.
Until this happens progressively, the 150 tons of waste generated by these entities will need to continue to be transported out of the area over the next 5 years.
In order to do this in a pollution-free manner, it is envisaged that this waste be transported to the Mahalaxmi waste transfer station in electric waste vans by BMC, after operational training by Clean Air Island. The present system of collecting waste in bags from the residences and hotels will continue, while using pollution-free transport. This will make all waste collecting transportation in ‘A” Ward, whether for vermiculture or for transporting out of the area, totally pollution- free and noiseless as also cheaper in operating costs. Tipper arrangements are also feasible but have not been budgeted.
Charging can take place overnight, at the Pumping Stations in Colaba, the Colaba Bus Depot or Cuffe Parade and at the BMC’s Worli premises.
Once vermiculture is progressively established by the residents and hotels, in situ, which is possible within the premises of the residents, etc., these waste vans can be used for other wards.
The training of 100 persons in the simple operation and maintenance of these vehicles is planned.
Driver training will also be given, there being no clutch or gear in these vehicles with a high torque and acceleration capacity.
33 Electric Road vehicles for waste transportation have been planned.
Mumbai suffers from high levels of air pollution. For example, benzene is 132% higher than norms in some areas.
Electric vehicles are pollution – free. Savings in carbon dioxide to the extent 20 tons per vehicle have been calculated to result over the life of these vehicles. Vehicle life is 3 times that of conventional vehicles due to fewer parts and movement on electro magnetic arcs and currents.
Oil, which is a scarce resource in the world and specially expensive through imports for India, will be saved to the extent of Rs. 12,60,000 per vehicle. It is for this reason that the Govt. of India gives a subsidy of 33% on the cost of each vehicle, as well as the benefit of 80% depreciation to write off the costs.
Operating cost savings amount to 56% as against petrol and 42% against diesel.
Clean public transport on ring routes such as CST station to the Nariman Point business area and to Churchgate station, can reduce car traffic somewhat, if medium sized mini-buses are used, which are noiseless and pollution-free.
It is envisaged that the city transport run 45 electric mini-buses with 27 standees and 3 seats for these short hauls. Each mini- buses can cover 200 km. with one quick battery change. Overnight charging does not require special facilities and can be carried out at the World Trade Centre bus depot at Cuffe Parade.
To provide for facilitating battery charging and change in some other key areas in the city as well, 5 stations have been planned.
Intensive training will be given to the city transport staff, for electric vehicles.
The Bhuleshwar area covering 10 sq.km in central Mumbai is highly congested and its jewellery market attracts thieves.
It is proposed to detail 10 electric mini-buses for this area, to take up internal transport exclusively and have outside transport parked at the mouth of this area. Operating costs of these 10 vehicles are a part of this project for 1 year.
A Total of 55 Electric Mini – buses have been planned for two wards.
Air pollution and oil are saved as much by pollution-free material handling utility vehicles as by road vehicles.
It is envisaged that 48 small electric tow tractors with 5 tons haulage capacity and hydraulic lifting arrangements, will modernize the city towing scene.
2 tractors for each ward will be sufficient to take care of the car towing needs of the entire city of Mumbai.
Charging of batteries can be carried out at the Traffic Police stations and opportunity charging, in between duty cycles is also possible. The range covered by each charge is 25 km.
One spare battery each for each ward has been provided to cater for emergency long hours. Similarly, one battery change platform per ward has also been provided.
Training in simple maintenance will be given to the staff deputed by the Traffic Police/BMC, who may operate the vehicles.
48 Electric Tow Tractors will operate in the entire city.