The Government Secretariat has joined the rest of the city in its fight against garbage by setting up a biogas plant.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the biogas plant, set up near the canteen in the South Block of the Secretariat, on Saturday. Bio Flame-Biogas and Energy Private Ltd. installed the plant in less than a month. It can process up to 100 kg of bio-waste an hour and produce eight to 10 kg equivalent of fuel. “Waste, mainly from the canteen, will be processed through this plant. The fuel will be used for cooking at the canteen kitchen. The slurry can be used as manure for the garden here,” said D.S. Sreekantan Nair, Undersecretary, Housekeeping Department. Officials are planning to set up an incinerator too. According to Mr. Nair, land for the Rs.18-lakh project has already been allotted near the bio-gas plant. The work is expected to be completed by April this year. “There is no need to segregate plastic. All wastes can be burnt in it and the smoke let out will not pollute the environment. The incinerator is similar to the one functioning at Shanthi Kavadam,” he added.