Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on 15 February, 2024 received environment clearance (EC) for its solid waste processing plant at Umber in Surat district from the Central government. Following this, the project development agency would start work at the site.

SMC had approved the plant to be built at a cost of Rs 345 crore. Since the existing landfill site at Khajod has attained its maximum capacity and is closed, a new solid waste processing plant with capacity of 3,000 tpd will come up at Umber on 3.40 lakh sq. mtrs. of area.

The project includes processing, treatment and disposal facilities of solid waste. As per the terms, the project is to be developed in 18 months and will operated by the firm for 10 years, once operational.

For the project, Rs 167 crore grant will come from the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 while the remaining cost will be covered from the grants of state and Central governments. It is likely that SMC will lay the foundation stone of the solid waste processing plant on 22 February, 2024 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Vansi Borsi in Navsari to inaugurate some projects.