Biogas plant: Thiruvananthapuram residents can avail 70 per cent subsidy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: City dwellers can avail 70 percent subsidy for having a biogas plant from Kudapanakunnu Karshika Karma Sena. For a one cubic metre biogas plant, only 30 percent of the amount of Rs 8,000 has to be paid which is the first of its kind. The 0.75 cubic metre biogas plant is priced at Rs 7200 and for a 0.50 cubic metre it is Rs 6750 .

Kudapanakunnu KKS has tied up with the department of environment and climate change after seeing reports on environmental hazards being created because of throwing garbage without properly processing it. The report had also highlighted that there had been a spurt in lifestyle diseases after consuming vegetables that were laced with pesticides. An official attached to the Agriculture development farmers welfare department told DC that the incentive for getting the biogas plant was that there would be added advantages of getting 45 growbags with potting mixture as well.

“Seeds and saplings will also be given along with the biogas plant. In fact drip irrigation will also be provided. We decided to give incentives to the city dwellers as a majority of them are office goers who might not have much time to water the vegetable farm”, said a department official. Once a week, the vegetable farm has to be sprayed with organic fungicide and fertilized with organic manure, both available at the eco shop attached to the Kudapanakunnu KKS.