Kozhikode: In a major breakthrough for the people of Kozhikode, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will set up a compressed biogas plant at Njeliyanparamba, the city’s primary waste dumping site, offering long-awaited relief to residents plagued by decades of unmanaged waste, reports ETV Bharat.
The Kerala state cabinet has approved the ₹99 crore project, which will be fully funded by BPCL under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The biogas plant will be capable of processing 150 to 180 tonnes of waste per day. The gas generated from the waste will be sold to the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), while the plant will also produce 20 to 25 tonnes of bio-fertilizer daily, which will be sold commercially.
BPCL has plans to set up a fuel station next to the plant to power its own fleet and other vehicles.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Dr. Jayashree, Chairperson of the Health Standing Committee of the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation, confirmed, “We have signed a 25-year contract with BPCL. All technical aspects of the project have been finalized.”
Under the agreement, BPCL will manage all plant operations except for waste collection, which will remain the responsibility of the Green Task Force (Haritha Karma Sena). BPCL officials stated that the plant construction is expected to be completed within two years.
“The land survey for the project is already complete,” said ward councillor T.K. Premalatha.
Njeliyanparamba, spread across 16 acres, has long been called Kozhikode’s ‘waste capital.’ Believed to have been used as a dump yard for more than 200 years, the site has become overwhelmed by mountains of waste—especially plastic—leading to severe environmental and public health issues.
Previous efforts to manage the waste at the site failed. A composting project using black soldier fly technology currently operates on a small scale. A bio-mining project, started with private firm Zonta, was abandoned after the Municipal Corporation terminated the agreement, leaving the area as an open landfill.
The unbearable stench and the growing population of stray dogs have made life increasingly difficult for residents.
While many residents have welcomed the announcement, some remain wary due to past disappointments.
Local resident Hameed said, “We are relieved by this development, but there will be strong protests if contaminated water is released during construction. We’ve seen failed promises before.”
BPCL officials addressed these concerns, assuring that all wastewater will be treated and reused within the plant and will not be discharged into the environment.
If successful, the project is expected to mark a turning point for Kozhikode’s waste management and transform Njeliyanparamba from a symbol of neglect into a model for sustainable waste-to-energy solutions.
