The mobile incinerator that had been working on a trial basis behind the Palayam market will be made operational from Thursday, according to officials of Suchitwa Mission. The machine will work for eight hours.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had said on the day of its arrival that the incinerator would function on two eight-hour shifts. But it has been decided to stick to the eight-hour schedule for now. Depending on the machine’s performance, the duration will be increased.
“Despite the heavy rain all afternoon, we managed to burn around two and half tonnes of garbage on Tuesday evening,” said G. Murali Krishnan of Green Transit Renewable Energies, a Bangalore-based company that is managing its functioning. Seven Corporation workers are also involved in the process.
Mayor’s allegation
However, at a press conference on Wednesday, Mayor K. Chandrika alleged that the machine was struggling to burn meat and fish wastes, a contention that was dismissed by Suchitwa Mission officials and Mr. Murali Krishnan. “Meat wastes take slightly longer burn, but even then, there is no question of the chambers getting clogged and the garbage not burning,” he said. According to him, the incinerator has performed without glitches since Sunday and has dealt with close to 14 tonnes of waste from Palayam.
The incinerator’s emission was the prime concern of government officials, but with the figures on the machine denoting values far below the limit set by the Pollution Control Board, the authorities have now turned their attention to its fuel consumption.
Mr. Murali Krishnan said that the machine would be operated in the morning from Thursday to ensure that the waste was being burnt in relatively drier conditions, in an attempt to conserve fuel.
Regarding plastic waste, Mr. Murali Krishnan said he had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the city Corporation over five months ago to manage all the plastic waste generated in the district.
He said he would meet the Mayor again this week to finalise terms regarding this.
