Karnataka Power Unit Denies Environmental Harm, Asserts Full Compliance
Bengaluru, November 7, 2025: The Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) has issued a robust defense of its waste-to-energy plant in Bidadi, asserting that the facility operates in full compliance with all pollution control norms and poses no threat to the environment. The statement comes in response to recent allegations from environmental groups regarding the plant’s monitoring of pollutants.
The corporation emphasized that the plant is under the constant supervision of the pollution control board and operates with transparency, with all operational data being streamed live to regulatory authorities.
Operational Transparency and Real-Time Monitoring
Addressing the concerns directly, KPCL clarified that the plant’s operations are thoroughly monitored. “The plant successfully established a connection with the servers of the State and Central Pollution Control Boards on August 25, 2025,” a KPCL official stated. “Currently, all information from the plant is available online with the Pollution Control Board. Data from every moment is being received by the board.”
This real-time data transmission, the corporation argues, is a testament to its operational transparency and directly counters claims that it has failed in its environmental monitoring duties. 
Proper Permits and Wastewater Management in Place
The KPCL highlighted that the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board granted consent for the operation of the Bidadi waste-to-energy plant on July 20, 2024, and operations commenced only after this official approval.
A key point of contention has been the management of leachate, the contaminated water produced from processing waste. KPCL detailed its process, stating that the leachate is treated and monitored within the plant premises. “The contaminated water is treated and monitored right next door. After testing and confirming its purity, the treated water is reused within the plant rather than being released into the environment,” the corporation explained. It termed allegations of releasing untreated leachate as “far from the truth.”
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Scientific Disposal and Innovative Use of Ash
For the residual ash produced after power generation—bottom ash and fly ash—KPCL outlined a two-pronged approach. Currently, the ash is being disposed of scientifically through the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Simultaneously, the corporation is pursuing an innovative solution for its long-term use. “A proposal was submitted to the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) on July 1, 2025, suggesting the use of this ash for road construction,” KPCL stated. The institute has since responded, requesting a payment of ₹44.84 lakh for research, which has been duly paid. KPCL expects the CRRI to initiate the process soon, expressing confidence that this initiative will “completely resolve the ash disposal issue.”
Boosting Capacity and Future Outlook
The Bidadi plant is designed to process 600 tonnes of waste daily to generate 11.50 MW of power. While it currently receives 200 tonnes of processed dry waste, KPCL expects this volume to ramp up to 500 tonnes by the end of this month. The corporation acknowledged that the current waste supply contains some moisture but assured that it is being managed within the plant to prevent any environmental harm.
With all necessary documentation for authorization under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016 submitted to the pollution board on October 13, 2025, KPCL maintains that its facility is a model of compliance. “The present waste-to-energy plant in Bidadi is operating under the vigilance of the Pollution Control Board, meeting all environmental standards,” the corporation concluded, firmly dismissing all allegations of failure as baseless.
