Municipal solid waste (MSW) management and its scientific disposal is a
major concern for the local municipal authorities of all major Indian cities. Under the
"Clean India Mission", the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) of India is investing US
$9 Billion to clean up 75 largest cities in India. Waste to Energy (WTE) plants will be a key
to its implementation. Currently, open air burning and landfilling are the most common
practices of wase disposal in India. Landfilling is considered the least favourable option
for cities as these sites occupy significant land areas in already crowded urban areas.
WTE plants or incinerators are considered the most viable solution for safe disposal of
MSW all over the world. In India, however, WTE projects have had mixed results and
outright failures. Currently, only eight such plants are operational in the country. This is
due to several technical, economic, environmental, social and policy factors involved. This
study investigates the feasibility of a proposed state-of-the art WTE plant in Delhi which
will set an example for other cities to follow. It reviews the various challenges involved in
the implementation of such a project and suggests mitigating solutions to overcome these
challenges
