The Deccan chronicle 23.09.2010
City to get power from garbageSept. 22: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Paalike (BBMP) is likely to set up a fully automated plant to segregate waste and generate power, said mayor S. K. Nataraj on Wednesday, while reacting to a Lok Adalat order to keep the city clean.
Speaking to reporters after a study tour to Mumbai to learn about garbage disposal practices prevalent in that city, he said these procedures would be emulated at Jigani on 25 acres of land. The plant will help segregate waste and convert it into biogas which subsequently can be used for power generation.
The plants will generate around 400 KW of electricity from one tonne of waste, which would suffice to light 150 sodium bulbs for around 10 hours, Mr Nataraj said.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has come up with a scientific solid waste processing machine called a biomethanisation unit, which could be used by BBMP to process the 3,200 metric tonnes of waste the city generates on a daily basis.
The plant set up by BARC has been running successfully and is helping to keep the city and the garbage disposal unit clean and free from heath hazards.
The technique has the potential to process 500 tonnes of waste on just 10 acres of land. Mr Nataraj said such units will be set up in all wards, markets and parks for better management of the waste generated.
“Setting up a biomethanisation unit helps dispose garbage and cuts down on transport costs. This will also help decentralise solid waste management in the city by setting up such units at the ward level,” he explained. It may be recalled that a similar project for
generating power, had failed at Mandur landfill.
