BARC, Mumbai, seeks commissioning of its indigenous plants in city limits
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has knocked on the doors of the Chennai Corporation to sell its garbage segregation technology.
On Saturday, a few BARC scientists met with officials of the civic body and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) for commissioning of its indigenously-developed Nisargruna biogas plants in the city.
If implemented here, the technology may be a step in the right direction to revive source segregation of garbage. The team from BARC sought commissioning of the plant in Koyambedu market complex. CMDA shoulders the responsibility of garbage clearance in the market complex.
The Chennai Corporation is yet to make a decision on using the technology as it has a few options before it. Around 4,900 tonnes of waste is generated in the Chennai Corporation limits every day.
The BARC technology is likely to be yet another option for generating energy using waste. The technology will also help to light up streetlights using the energy generated.
Around 30 per cent of municipal solid waste is biodegradable. A tonne of biodegradable waste can produce 25-30 kg of methane, about 150 kg of carbon dioxide and 50-60 kg of organic manure.
Methane-enriched biogas can be used to generate electricity or heat. The technology offers a decentralised way of garbage disposal as 300 sq. ft. of land in a locality is enough to process one tonne of waste every day.
Residents will have to segregate the waste for the project to be successful. This is the most challenging aspect of the project.
BARC, Mumbai, has developed the technology to process biodegradable waste resource materials originating in kitchens, markets and abattoirs. Yet another aspect of the technology is its ability to generate resource even from hazardous biological sludge. The technology is said to be relatively simple and does not involve imports.
BARC claimed the plants could be operated by unskilled workers after they are trained for a month. The plants can also serve as power houses in fringe areas of the city.
Keywords: Chennai Corporation, waste management, biogas production, CMDA, BARC
While the offer to build a biogas generation plant is laudable,
what happened to the biogas generation plant at Koyambedu? After
a lot of political mileage was gained out of just opening the
plant and showcasing Chennai's ability to "move with the times",
it is now lying in disuse. Will the new plant go the same way? As
a stopgap measure, while the politicians may allow building the
plant, if it is not ensured that it is functioning 2 years from
now, the plan has failed!
The only way to deal with plastic waste is to recycle. Chennai
must follow Germany's example in this matter - almost everything
is recycled there. There is not even a pilot proposal to build a
recycling plant - if there is any commitment at all on the
government's side to change the situation, expensive it may be,
but nothing else is an option. A public private partnership will
make sure the Corporation does not incur losses and can be used
to prove the viability.
This proposal from BARC is what is called a "no brainer': so obviously
right, it is not to be delayed or doubted. If the Chennai Corporation
claims it may have other options, they should put them on the table and
make a choice. Thousands of cities, large and small, produce biogas
from munucipal waste around the world. It is the thing to do in the
21st century. This BARC plant is indegenous equipment, and should be
promoted in its use in Chennai.If the Methane naturally generated in
waste dumps is left uncaptured, it enters the atmosphere as a
destructive and potent Green House gas, three times worse than Carbon
dioxide. Hence though a biogas plant does produce carbon dioxide as
well, it is the Methane capture that recommends it, and the CO^2 can be
sequestred. The technology is simple, and trouble free,if citizens
cooperate.In developing this option for Methane capture from municipal
waste, BARC has paid the nation a handsome dividend for the public
support it has enjoyed over the year
Govt should come forward to implement this tech on war footing basis,
even if it cost some crores, please don't hesitate. If possible extend
this to all over Tamil Nadu and be a leader in Waste Management.
This is the best technology available now in the country and the same
should be implemented with out any hesitation and delay that too for the
power starved state
Collection of waste material from house is the key issue. Residents and many shop
owners dont seem to know the method to dump the waste in the large sized road
side dust bins. Once contained waste now spreads on the road creating havoc to
public. This needs to be tackled properly by the corporation. Even the staff of
corporation who are involved in the should take care to contain the waste and
collect and leave the place where the dust bin is located neat & clean. The next
most important step is the manage the waste. Biogas can be given free to people
who need upgraded fuel but cant afford one. Similarly the organic manure could
also be provided to the needy at subsidized cost. However in all these steps
professionalism is required to be shown. It is a welcome measure.
Its high time we implement these kind of new technologies to clean up
the cities and generate power. The dumping yard near pallikaranai is
one such example which badly needs attention as the smell has become
the landmark of the area.
As far as the segregation of waste is concerned, people must be
educated about the importance of garbage segregation. Here in the UK,
we have "blue", "Black" and "brown" bins for every house which is
meant for biodegradable waste, plastics and glass bottles
respectively. So even if people don't understand the basic purpose of
segregating the garbage, atleast they can do it without confusion and
will be helpful for the authorities. We can do something similar or
more innovative.
Eventually this approach might make the city people happy. The bigger
role to be played in its efficient working is now in the complete
involvement of people and the proud workers concerning with that..
Expecting such inceptions in other districts of Tamil Nadu also..
In singapore this system is being followed for years together and everybody knows that Singapore is a cleanest city capital. It is
worthwhile to implement this scheme atleast as a model one and
after finding it is successful, it may be extended to other parts
of the city. Of course the people living in chennai are educated
and if a small amount of awareness is given the scheme will be a
grand success.
pl. give a trial
In order for the project to be successful, residents should be offered some incentive to segregrate the garbage before disposal. Even as little as Rs.50 a month for consistently segregrating garbage would lure them towards doing this. Once they have done this for a year or so we could stop providing the incentive as they would have cultivated the habit by then.
The Chennai Corporation should examine the project and implement it. The process yields not only some gas but also valuable natural manure which can be sold in addition to cleaning up the city. The Corporation should make it compulsory for the people to segregate the garbage at source itself so that it is easy for them to process it. The another component of garbage bamely the plastic, metal and glass can also go for recycling. Political parties should not make source segregation an issue to catch votes. This will prevent accumulation of garbage in the streets which will make the city more beautiful without any extra efforts.
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