BARC bio-plants to light up TN streets

Tamil Nadu’s persistent issues with solid waste management may be solved soon with Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC’s) bio-methanation plants, which not only promises to generate manure, but also power sufficient to light up streets.

Several government agencies, educational institutions and business organisations have shown an interest in signing a deal with BARC for setting up the plant at their backyard.

“We are planning to set up 50 non-conventional bio-methanation plants in various districts. Small plants can process half-a-tonne to five tonnes of biodegradable garbage every day while larger ones can handle 25 or 50 metric tonnes”, senior scientist for technical coordination wing at BARC J Daniel Chellappa told Deccan Herald.

The official said the bio-methanation plant project, named Nisargruna, produces natural manure and also gaseous methane fuel as a by-product. The methane gas can be used for heating or cooking, or for generating electricity for lighting-up streetlights.

Daniel Chellappa said the plant can process food waste, kitchen waste, vegetable peels, abattoir waste, flower and fruit waste and agro waste.

According to State Municipal Administration department, Chennai alone generates about 5,000 tonnes of garbage per day. A senior official of that department also said about one lakh tonnes of garbage is being generated on daily basis across Tamil Nadu.

The wastes, which consists of about 60 per cent bio-degradable materials, are dumped in yards.

“Dumping of garbage may lead to various health hazards to the people living nearby”, the official pointed out.

“The first such plant is coming up in Chennai at a cost of Rs 40 lakh which includes one year operational and maintenance charges. The pilot plant can handle two tonnes of biodegradable garbage per day”, Daniel Chellappa said.