The Hindu 12.06.2013
Firms to generate power from garbage shortlisted
Corporation assures 150 to 200 tonnes of garbage a day.
Four companies have been shortlisted for generating
electricity from the Ramaiyanpatti garbage dump on the outskirts of the
town.
In the wake of issues related to fire accidents
and other problems at the 40-acre garbage dump, the Municipal
Corporation was forced to execute a solid waste management programme.
Moreover, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has ordered the civic
body to execute a solid waste management programme as early as possible,
considering the wellbeing of the people living nearby.
When
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced the Rs. 55-crore power project
for the Corporation using waste as raw material for producing
electricity, the local body heaved a sigh of relief as it would not have
any financial burden.
Letters of Interest were
invited from interested companies for the project and five firms
responded and one was found to be not qualified.
The
remaining four companies have been asked to submit their proposal based
on the assurance given by the Corporation that it would be supplying 150
to 200 tonnes of garbage a day.
“With this quantum
of waste, the company selected for this programme will be able to
generate 2 MW electricity which would ensure a lot of savings in the
Corporation’s electricity bill,” said a Corporation official.
Energy audit
Meanwhile,
the Corporation is in the process of identifying a company for
conducting energy audit in the areas under its jurisdiction. As per the
proposed exercise, the company would conduct a comprehensive survey on
the usage of streetlights and other electrical equipment of the
Corporation and submit its suggestions on energy savings within six
months. It will suggest the exact number of streetlights to be used
across the town.
“When the suggestions are
implemented, it will save a sizable amount for the Corporation and the
savings will be shared by the Corporation and the firm that conducted
the energy audit,” the official said.
