Emulating the success story of the Sreekaryam market where a waste-to-energy plant set up six years ago continues to light up the entire market and the nearby street, the city Corporation is planning to set up biogas plants in the city’s markets. Such plants in addition to treating waste at source will generate electricity as well, and in Sreekaryam the plant powers 118 bulbs.
“This market is one of the few in the city that is free of stench and is relatively cleaner.”
He, however, said that since the capacity of the plant was limited, mostly fish and meat waste was fed into the plant while vegetable waste was dumped nearby. That needed to be removed separately, he said, adding that plans were on the anvil to renovate the market at a cost of Rs.5.5 lakh and expanding the market area to include a larger plant was under consideration.
Biogas plants in schools
Plans were also on to set up biogas plants in schools and the health centre in the area, said Mr. Vijayakumar. The plant has a capacity to generate four kilowatt of energy.
Officials of Biotech, the company which set up the plant and is currently manning it, said that they had constructed much larger systems, capable of processing 12 metric tonnes of waste a day and producing 75 kilowatt of energy.
Corporation works standing committee chairperson V.S. Padmakumar said that work was progressing at both Peroorkada and Kazhakuttam markets for setting up waste-to-energy plants.
“We are halfway through with the project at Kazhakuttam. Taking into account the significantly greater amount of waste produced at Chala and Palayam markets, we are considering to set up larger plants there,” he said.
“We would have actually set up such a plant at Palayam much before, but two years ago an understanding was reached with Infrastructure Kerala Limited (INKEL) on the development of the Palayam market and so other construction activities were set aside to make way for this programme. As the project does not seem to materialise any soon, we are planning to set up waste-to-energy plant at Palayam as well,” said Palayam Rajan, ward councillor. He said the council had already given its not for setting up a biogas plant.
“During the next meeting, we will also chalk out plans to set up those additional components required to generate electricity to light up the entire market,” he said.
