The kochi Corporation has so far spent ₹118.30 crore on biomining.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL
The National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT-C) is likely to submit its report on the volume of legacy waste remaining to be bio-mined at the Kochi Corporation’s Brahmapuram dumping yard on Monday (May 11, 2026).
The agency, initially engaged by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) council, was reappointed by the newly elected United Democratic Front (UDF) governing committee earlier this year. In its earlier assessment during the LDF tenure, the NIT-C had found an additional 1.46 lakh tonnes of legacy waste over and above the 7 lakh tonnes initially calculated for biomining.
The NIT-C was re-engaged after the Opposition LDF contested Mayor V.K. Minimol’s statement in January, following her visit to Brahmapuram, that 2.50 lakh tonnes of waste remained to be bio-mined. The Opposition alleged that the figure included scientifically capped waste, which does not require biomining, and questioned how the estimate was reached when officials had confirmed that only 1.43 lakh tonnes remained.
Since being reappointed, the NIT-C has conducted a drone survey of the legacy waste site. “We are expecting the report on Monday. It will be placed before the council meeting scheduled for May 15,” said Ms. Minimol.
Just before the Assembly election notification, the UDF-led Corporation council granted Bhumi Green Energy an extension to complete biomining of the remaining waste. The council claimed it had managed to reduce the per-tonne rate of biomining by ₹18 from the previously fixed ₹1,690 through intense negotiations, saving the Corporation around ₹60 lakh.
The Opposition LDF, however, alleged that norms were violated by assigning work without tender and council approval. It contested the extension agreement reached even before receiving the NIT-C’s report. LDF parliamentary party leader V.A. Sreejith warned of stiff protest when the Mayor’s advance approval comes before the council for ratification.
Ms. Minimol defended the extension, citing April-May as the most suitable period for biomining, since the tonnage of waste would increase during the monsoon. She added that the Corporation would pay the bill for the additional 1.46 lakh tonnes bio-mined by the company after securing council approval through a supplementary agenda.
Biomining, originally scheduled for completion within 16 months, had earlier been given a nine-month extension due to weather-related challenges and financial constraints. The Corporation has so far spent ₹118.30 crore on biomining.
Published – May 09, 2026 07:57 pm IST
