Bidadi Waste-to-Energy Plant Fully Compliant with Environmental Norms: KPCL

 
Bengaluru, Nov 7th, 2025: The Bidadi waste-to-energy plant operates in full compliance with Pollution Control Board regulations and does not cause any environmental damage, Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) stated today.

 
Responding to a press release from Fridays for Future – Karnataka, which referred to an alleged Central Pollution Control Board report to the National Green Tribunal claiming that the plant had failed to monitor pollutants, KPCL states that the facility fully adheres to environmental regulations and is under continuous supervision.

 
The Karnataka Pollution Control Board granted permission for the Bidadi waste-to-energy plant to commence operations on July 20, 2024, and the plant began functioning thereafter. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the company submitted a proposal with all necessary documents to the Pollution Control Board on October 13, 2025, seeking authorisation.

 
The plant was connected to both the State and the Central Pollution Control Board servers on August 25, 2025. All data related to the plant is now available online with the board, and real-time information is accessible at all times, KPCL clarified.

The leachate (polluted water) generated at the plant is treated and monitored on-site. Only after confirming that the treated water is clean is it reused within the facility. The corporation asserted that the claim that leachate was released without proper monitoring and testing is entirely false.
 

The bottom ash and fly ash generated during energy production are currently being scientifically disposed of through the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Meanwhile, a proposal was submitted to the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) on July 1, 2025, suggesting the use of this ash in road construction. CRRI requested ₹44.84 lakh for research on this, which has already been paid. It is expected that CRRI will soon initiate the process. KPCL stated that using ash for road construction would completely resolve the disposal issue.

The Bidadi plant, which processes 600 tonnes of waste per day to produce 11.50 megawatts of electricity, is currently receiving 200 tonnes of processed dry waste daily. This is expected to increase to 500 tonnes by the end of the month. Although the waste has presently some moisture content, KPCL assured that it is being managed in a way that prevents any environmental harm.

 
KPCL reiterated that the Bidadi waste-to-energy plant operates under the close supervision of the Pollution Control Board, adhering to all environmental standards. Hence, allegations that the plant has failed to monitor toxic pollutants are baseless and far from the truth.

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