CM Devendra Fadnavis Directs Formation of Dedicated Task Force to...

By GT24x7 Reporter · 13 October 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

Dedicated Task Forces Mandated for Garbage-Free Urban Centers Across Maharashtra

MUMBAI — Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued comprehensive policy directives on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, ordering the immediate establishment of specialized task forces to eliminate urban solid waste and fast-track the conversion of organic refuse into compressed biogas (CBG). Addressing a high-level review meeting at his official residence, *Varsha*, in Mumbai, Fadnavis stated that dedicated task forces will drive project execution in alignment with the State's Compressed Biogas Policy 2026.

The high-level strategy session focused on assessing urban solid waste management metrics, spatial availability, technology compatibility, and proximity to city gas distribution (CGD) pipeline networks. Minister of State Madhuri Misal and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide attended the review alongside senior urban development functionaries, municipal officials, and bioenergy industry representatives.

Public-Private Models and Strategic Focus on Metropolitan Urban Clusters

Chief Minister Fadnavis highlighted that processing biodegradable municipal waste directly into compressed biogas through structured Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and joint ventures involving oil marketing companies (OMCs) will yield substantial long-term benefits. By transitioning wet waste processing to local CBG facilities, municipal corporations across the state stand to significantly reduce heavy financial expenditures traditionally incurred on waste collection, long-distance haulage, and landfill maintenance.

Identifying high-density metropolitan zones facing severe waste management challenges, Fadnavis directed urban planners to prioritize CBG plant installations across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)—specifically covering the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation, Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation, and Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation. Additionally, major industrial and IT hubs in Pune district, including Hinjawadi and Chakan, have been marked for immediate project feasibility studies and site allocations.

Replication of Proven Municipal Models and Operational Integration

During the review session, bioenergy enterprise Keva Green presented a technical demonstration detailing its operational waste-to-biogas plant in Nagpur. Company representatives provided data on daily organic waste processing capacities, biomethane output purity, and integration pathways with local natural gas grids, outlining a scalable model for expansion across other urban centers in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis noted that replicating tested public-private models will create a sustainable circular economy while accelerating progress toward national waste-to-wealth and clean energy benchmarks. He directed officials to establish streamlined administrative mechanisms under the new task forces to ensure rapid clearance of land, feedstock supply agreements, and pipeline connectivity for incoming private developers.

Long-Term Urban Environmental Sustainability and Administrative Goals

The administrative push aligns directly with Maharashtra's State CBG Policy 2026, which provides structured financial and regulatory support for urban local bodies to divert wet waste away from overflowing landfills. By processing organic waste scientifically, municipal authorities aim to curtail methane emissions, improve local urban sanitation, and generate renewable green fuel for commercial and vehicular use.

Concluding the meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis reiterated that achieving garbage-free urban status requires seamless, inter-departmental coordination between municipal local bodies, energy companies, and state administration, with the newly mandated task forces serving as the primary operational engines for execution.