Chennai: This Republic Day, streetlights from Basin Bridge to Ripon Buildings will be lit with electricity generated by Chennai’s first bioÂmÂethanation plant.
Researchers from BhaÂbha Atomic Research CeÂnÂtre (Barc) and Chennai corporation officials insÂpected on Tuesday, the biomethanation plant being set up at the PulÂianÂthope garbage transfer station. The plant constructed on a pilot basis will reduce two tonnes of biodegradable waste collected from the neighbourhood.
HotÂels, marriage halls and market areas will be targeted and daily, about 100 kilograms waste will be composted to produce 200 units of power. “Our aim is to reduce the waste collected from the city; poÂwer production is an addÂed advantage,” said a corporation official.
The success of the plant will lead to more such plants in every zone and the local body is planning to set up a few more plants where gaÂrbage collection is high, the official added.
With source segregation remaining a Herculean task, the civic body is plaÂnning to arrange excÂlusÂive vehicles to collect bioÂdegradable waste from households in the locality and provide special bins for food waste.
“The main aim of this project is to make people do segregation at source. When non biodegradable waste miÂxes with degradable waÂste and gets duÂmped in the dump yard, it pollutes the earth while tonnes of food waste collected from every house go useless,” said S.P. Kale, head, technology transfer division, Barc. “Reducing bio degradable wastes also helps in reducing mosÂquito and rodent breÂedÂing and can reduce garÂbage accumulation,” opiÂned J. Daniel ChellÂapÂpa, senior scientist, Barc.
