The Tiruchi Corporation has decided to install a
bio-digester at the Gandhi Market, one of the biggest markets in the
State, to produce energy from organic solid waste.

The
civic body would soon invite expression of interest for the pilot
project to be taken up Build-Own-Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model. A
preliminary clearance for the project was obtained from the Corporation
Council at its recent meeting. A suitable agency with necessary
experience is to be identified to design, operate and maintain it for
three years before handing it over to the Corporation.

The
Gandhi Market generates about 40 tonnes of organic solid waste every
day, including vegetable, fruit and meat wastes. Currently, the garbage
is being transported on a daily basis to the Corporation garbage dump.
With the market functioning round-the-clock, garbage removal and
transport present a major task to the civic authorities. Corporation
garbage trucks make several trips a day to Ariyamangalam transporting
the solid wastes. Yet, uncollected garbage could be seen dumped all
around the market, especially along the Thanjavur Road.

In
an attempt to overcome the problem, the Corporation has hit upon the
idea of going in for a bio-digester which would generate bio-gas as the
concept is said to be successfully implemented in some parts of the
country. “We are exploring the technology options available and looking
for some private investment to make it a successful project. We are
confident of attracting quite a few proposals,” Corporation Commissioner
V.P.Thandapani told The Hindu on Friday.

Corporation
authorities plan to go in for the project on a smaller scale to start
with on an experimental basis. The project could be scaled up at a later
stage, depending on the results of the pilot project. “Initially, about
five to 10 tonnes of organic solid wastes could be processed,” a
Corporation engineer said.

The civic body would
provide the space for installing the bio-digester at the market premises
and assured supply of organic waste to the private agency. The energy
produced could be possibly used for public lighting at the Gandhi Market
under a buy-back arrangement with the private agency installing the
bio-digester. The business model is, however, yet to be worked out.
According to sources, the Corporation would soon approach the
Commissionerate of Municipal Administration with the proposal for
clearance to take up the project with private participation.