One CER is equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide reduced. Under the Kyoto Protocol, governments and companies in the European Union can use these credits to offset their carbon emissions and meet part of their reduction targets. Carbon credits are generated mainly in the developing countries because of the lower project cost. India has cornered nearly 43 per cent of the carbon credits issued so far by the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) Executive Board.

Currently, the BMC is in talks with the consultant for the Gorai dump closure, IL&FS Ecosmart Ltd, for selling the carbon credits. Rajeev says the World Bank has proposed that the carbon credits be traded at $10 per unit of CER cut.

Instead of following the normal technique of closing the dumping ground —- which results in generation of large amounts of methane —- the BMC would use the ‘capping technology’, wherein layers of ground, gravel and solid material are used to seal the dump.

Chetan Zaveri, who is the Project Director and Head, Environment Compliance and Risk Management, IL&FS, points out that methane is 21 times more potent than carbon. “Pipes will be laid to collect methane at the dumping ground while the black watery leachate (pollutant) would be collected separately,” he said. Instead of being emitted into the atmosphere, the methane will be used to generate electricity.

“The capture and combustion of methane will result in a substantial reduction of greenhouse emissions and thus has the potential to earn carbon credits,” Zaveri said. He claims the capping technology is being used for the first time in the country. The BMC plans to later convert the Gorai dump into a green space.

... contd.