Waste generated into fish feed in Navi Mumbai

Mumbai: The disposal of almost 800 kilograms of waste generated every week within the Diwale fish market, Belapur, is to be unitedly managed by 80 fish sellers

Mumbai: The disposal of almost 800 kilograms of waste generated every week within the Diwale fish market, Belapur, is to be unitedly managed by 80 fish sellers. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has become the first local governing body in the country to have a pilot waste processing plant set up within a fish market. It converts the waste through fermentation into organic fish feed.

Navi Mumbai, India - Dec. 20, 2022:Fish waste management at Diwa fish market CBD Belapur Navi Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. (Photo by Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO) (HT PHOTO)

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the civic administration in coordination with an NGO has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), wherein the fish market waste disposal is to be an economically and environmentally profiting venture. The MoU is signed for five years and is all set to be implemented.

“Until now, the disposal of waste from the fish market was collected by the garbage vehicle and then taken to the landfill site. Considering NMMC is working to get every stakeholder to take responsibility for the waste getting generated thereby reducing the load on the landfill site, there was a lot of thought given on the most organic way to dispose of fish market waste,” said Dr B Rajale, deputy municipal commissioner, NMMC.

The concept of setting up an independent waste disposal plant which will not only address the waste from the market but also yield environmentally benefitting returns came across to be a worthy venture, he added. The feed prepared from the waste will eventually be sourced to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) by the NGO to be sold in the market.

Reportedly, around 50 kilograms of fish feed from the plant have already been procured and sent to ICAR for further approvals.

In March, Diwale village was termed to be the first smart village of Navi Mumbai for having modern facilities that in turn promote multiple ways of earning a livelihood. One of the most discussed attributes of this small village, comprising a predominantly fishing community, was the fully equipped infrastructure for the fish market. The systematic approach being taken towards disposal of the waste from the fish market is another step to boost the image.

Based on the feasibility report and the approvals from ICAR about the fish feed standards, the administration will consider having similar plants set up within other fish markets in the city.

“We will be undergoing training to use the plant but at the outset we consider the initiative to be beneficial. Currently, the waste is dumped into a community bin which leads to the stench and unhygienic conditions on the road. Through the initiative, there is also the opportunity of generating employment as two women will be needed to monitor the plant’s operation regularly,” said Surekha Koli, president of Ek Veera Fisherwoman Association.