The Times of India               19.07.2013

Amma canteen kitchen to run on biogas

COIMBATORE: Plans are afoot to transform the Amma Unaivagam at Saravanampatti into a zero-waste kitchen. A bio-methanisation unit will soon be set up here that will source all the vegetable waste and food leftover from the canteen (unaivagam) besides organic waste from hotels in the city and turn them into fuel to run the unaivagam kitchen.

Civil work to set up the biogas unit has already started. "The natural gas produced will be utilised at the canteen and if there is surplus it will be used for other purposes," said G Latha, commissioner, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation.

The corporation has opted for a one tonne capacity bio-methanisation unit at Saravanampatti. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs10 lakh. The corporation will ensure proper collection of food and organic waste from commercial vegetable stalls and other enterprises, diverting it to the unit to be used for natural gas generation. Pipelines will be laid from the bio-methanisation unit and connected to the unaivagam kitchen with valves attached to supply gas whenever required. LPG cylinder kit allotted at the canteen will be kept on standby mode for emergencies after the methanisation unit becomes operational.

According to corporation officials, on an average, a kitchen operating at an Amma Unaivagam consumes 27 to 29 LPG cylinders every month. The burden on LPG could be effectively curtailed once the biogas plant becomes functional, according to corporation officials. The corporation has sold more than 5 lakh idlis and 1.36 lakh plates of sambar rice and 1.17 lakh plates of curd rice at the 10 city budget canteens since June 2 this year. "The methanisation plant at Saravanampatti will be completed at the earliest," said S Sivarasu, deputy commissioner, CMC.

The municipal administration and water supply department from Chennai has already instructed the corporation to identify suitable locations for medium scale bio methanisation units in the city. The corporation has also proposed to set up a similar unit at the proposed wholesale vegetable market site near Kavundampalayam.

The Hindu               16.07.2013

13,000 saplings planted in nine town panchayats

In an effort to protect environment and facilitate improved rainfall, 13,000 saplings were planted in nine town panchayats in the district here on Monday.

As part of the Chief Minister’s 65{+t}{+h}birthday celebrations, the district was allotted two lakh saplings to be planed in the current year. In addition to that, the district administration has decided to plant three lakh saplings with the help of Rotary Clubs, NGOs, hospitals and public sector undertakings.

Hence in the first phase, 13,000 saplings were distributed to block development officers of town panchayats that includes Salem, Ayodhiyapattinam, Panamarathupatti, Magudanchavadi, Tharamangalam, Pethanaickenpalayam, Omalur, Attur and Yercaud.

The saplings would be planted in government vacant lands, near the bunds of lakes, desilted lakes under the MGNREGS, roadsides, premises of government buildings, private premises, schools and other places. The administration has planned to plant three lakh saplings by year-end as two lakh saplings were planted last year in the district. A separate committee to oversee the maintenance of the saplings was also constituted by the district administration. Officials added that with the onset of the monsoon, this is the right times for planting saplings as watering at the initial stage would be not a problem. Saplings distributed include banyan, neem, mantharai, illuppai, poovarasu, punnai, mahilam and pungam. These species would survive even during drought conditions and hence, had been chosen by the government for planting. Officials added that with depleting groundwater level and poor rainfall, the saplings would help in improving the rainfall and also make the district turn green.

Collector K. Maharabushanam planted a few saplings on the Collectorate premises and also distributed the saplings to the BDOs.