Palike turns to BARC to tackle garbage

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has expedited the process of issuing work orders to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), to set up 16 waste-to-energy plants in the City.

In the wake of the deepening garbage crisis in the City, the Palike has started the process of identifying locations, and has promised to offer assistance for companies to set up waste-to-energy plants at the earliest.

A Palike officer said a plant with a capacity of five tonnes can generate at least 250 kilowatt of electricity, and dispose of at least 80 tonnes of pure wet waste everyday.

“The BARC is setting up a biogas-based thermal power plants which would generate enough electricity to light up the streetlights of the City,” the source said. On an average, the Palike spends about Rs 18 crore on electricity, which it can save if biogas-based power plants become operational.

Each plant may require at least six months to become operational. These plants are to be constructed and operated under the guidance of Dr S P Kale, the Head of Technology Transfer and Collaboration Division at BARC, say sources.