Hubballi, June 27 -- Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Friday inspected a waste-to-charcoal unit run by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), a subsidiary of NTPC, in Hubballi and said the initiative aims to convert dry waste into charcoal to support cleaner cities and better waste management, with operations to be open for the public by 2027.

During the visit, the Minister said, speaking to the media, the project will create employment opportunities and will be the first such facility in South India.

"The facility will be fully operational for the public by 2027. NVVN will spend around Rs.11 crore annually on maintenance. The project is expected to create more than 200 jobs and will be the first such unit i...