The Times of India 02.08.2012
BBMP to generate 8 MW power from waste in 90 days
MYSORE: The civic body in Bangalore will start generating 8 MW of power from solid waste in three months, the BBMP commissioner M K Shankarlingegowda said on Wednesday.
This comes amidst the plans by the MCC to convert the solid waste
Mysore is generating to energy. According to the BBMP commissioner
Bangalore's plant will be the first in India and will start with 8 MW of
power. "I hope the plant will be operational in 90 days when we start
converting waste into energy," he told experts and delegates at the
International Conference on Solid Waste Management (ICONSWM) at Infosys
campus.
We produce 4,000 tonnes of garbage everyday and are
investing Rs 5,050 crore for solid waste management, including Rs 2,000
crore capital investment. It is a burdening the BBMP and there is need
to focus on garbage management, he said receiving best municipal body in
handling garbage awarded by the International Society of Waste
Management, Air (IAWMAW) and Water, which hosted the event. Bangalore
will host next edition of ICONSWM in 2013.
Former additional chief secretary B A Coutinho appreciated the move saying there is immediate need to change the attitude of the people towards waste. He said he had tried to convert solid waste into energy by setting up a plant at Chandigarh when he was on central deputation. The thing is we've to create dignity in handling waste so that entrepreneurs are interested, he stated. Since people with entrepreneurial attitude are not taking up garbage handling, it is affecting the environment too, he said asking to reorient on groundwater pollution. "The use and throw culture is affecting us. It has polluted the surface and groundwater," he said giving example of the government-owned Mysore Paper Mills at Bhadravathi, which polluted Bhadra river.
Awards
The IAWMAW awarded Infosys technologies for promoting eco-friendly living at its Mysore campus in industry section. The IT major got the award for effective handling of garbage and waste water generated at the campus, which houses some 20,000 techies. The Ooty Municipality got best civic body among the hill stations while Kadri Manjunatheshwara temple committee got the award in major pilgrimage section. The organizers also awarded 11 youths for the research work. The awardees include researchers from Japan, Australia, Malaysia and Taiwan. 1,300 delegates attended the three-day meet which concluded on Wednesday.
