Chennai: The March 31 deadline given by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to set up biomethanation plant has been followed by less than five per cent of food chain groups, says experts.
City’s hotels representatives pointed fingers at the government for burdening them with a massive task. “While we struggle for parking space, how can we get land to set up a biogas plant?” asked a member.
A biogas plant of one-tonne capacity will cost around Rs 8-10 lakh and requires 3,000 square feet of land, added another member. Stating that the construction and infrastructure will cost them a bomb, members said that they would contribute waste if the government set up a plant.
But environmentalists reveal different reasons. “Pig rearers are our major competitors. Providing food waste to cattle herders reduces the disposal and sewage taxes to food chain groups. They can also strike a good deal with the rearers in buying meat,” said Mangalam Balasubramanian, a Pammal based environmentalist who has set up a one-tonne biogas plant to convert food waste to biogas.
“Food entrepreneurs should adopt an environmental angle to solve the problem rather than looking a way to increase profits. Unprocessed food waste with high nitrogen levels is a threat to water bodies,” added Mangalam.
“We are working alongside IIT Madras to give us the technology to set up a plant in every zone of our city,” said chairman of TNPCB K. Skandan.
