Ahmedabad corporation takes back 15-acre land after firm fails to deliver

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has taken back 50% of land allotted to UPL-Djai Power for processing solid waste in the city. The company failed to work at the promised capacity. The civic body also has plans to earn carbon credits for this project.

AMC had roped in UPL-Djai Power for processing solid waste collected from the city and produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF). This RDF can be used in cement factories, textile mill boilers, steel re-rolling furnaces, pharmaceutical boilers, etc. The company was supposed to process 500 tons of solid waste daily. However, it could process only 250 tons. As a result, the civic body decided to take back 50% of total 30 acres of land allotted to the company.

The Opposition Congress has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of shielding private companies associated with solid waste processing. Three other companies - Excel Industries, Hanjer Biotech Energies and Creative Company of Japan - have also been roped in for the same project. Excel Industries was also supposed to process 500-ton solid waste but is working at only 50% capacity. Other two companies are yet to commence operations.

"The BJP should have confiscated the bank guarantee of Rs50 lakh given by the UPL-Djai Power as the company has breached the condition of MoU by not giving a share from carbon credit revenue to AMC," said Badruddin Shaikh, leader of Opposition in the AMC.

The Congress demanded that the ruling party take action against other three companies as well.