Thiruvananthapuram: Despite strong opposition from local residents and the elected body of Mangalapuram panchayat, the city corporation is pushing ahead with plans to establish a compressed biogas (CBG) plant at Koppam in Mangalapuram. The plant, aimed at tackling the capital’s escalating waste management crisis, will be developed on a 15-acre site previously occupied by English Indian Clays Ltd. The project is part of a larger initiative by the state govt to expand waste treatment infrastructure across the state, following the success of a similar facility in Brahmapuram, Kochi. The Thiruvananthapuram plant will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). The corporation has already initiated steps to acquire the land under a purchase-and-lease model. Legal vetting is currently underway and expected to conclude within three months. “Once the legal process is complete, we will sign an agreement with BPCL and begin construction. Our goal is to finish the entire process within four months,” said Jahamgeer S, secretary of the city corporation. Jahamgeer said the plant would be constructed using advanced technology with minimal environmental impact. “There is no reason for concern. Even steam will not escape from the plant. Only seven acres will be used for construction, while the remaining eight acres will act as a buffer zone. It’s a sustainable model, already proven successful in Kochi,” he said. However, Mangalapuram panchayat remains firm in its opposition. The panchayat had earlier passed a unanimous resolution against the project, demanding that the corporation find a site within its own jurisdiction. “Our committee, regardless of political affiliation, agreed that we cannot support this project in our area,” said Suma V, president of Mangalapuram panchayat. “If the corporation insists the plant has minimal impact, it should first create awareness among residents. Right now, there is a complete lack of trust and consultation.” The plant is expected to process 200 tonnes of waste per day, although this may be scaled down to 100 tonnes depending on land feasibility. The total project cost will be finalized once BPCL submits a detailed feasibility report. Once the agreement is signed, the plant is expected to become operational within a year. Initially, four alternative sites within the city were considered, but all were rejected due to space constraints. Koppam was ultimately selected as the only viable location for a project of this scale. The move comes after years of waste management failures, particularly following the closure of the Vilappilsala plant amid public protests. Attempts at decentralised waste management, including the use of Thumboormuzhi aerobic bins, have largely failed, leading to increased illegal dumping.