More biogas plants planned to tackle City's garbage woes

 In order to tackle the garbage crisis effectively and reduce the quantity of waste being sent to landfills from the City, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed to set up five biogas plants.

Mayor Manjunatha Reddy told Deccan Herald, “There are already 12 biomethanation (biogas) plants functioning, and with five more coming up, there would be a better waste management in the City.”

 “Each plant, once functional, would be able to process five tonnes of waste on a daily basis. The work on setting up of plants is underway. The biogas plants will become operational soon,” the mayor said.

The biogas plants will come up at KG Tower (ward no 35), RR Nagar (72), KR Puram (56), Varthur (149) and Koramanagala (151). The cost of each plant is Rs 80 lakh, said a BBMP official.

These plants can convert biodegradable waste into energy and the contract for constructing them has been awarded to Ashoka Biogreen Private Limited, the official added.

 BBMP officials said that the existing biogas plants are located at Kuvempu Nagar, Aramane Nagar, Gandhinagar, Pattabhiramnagar, Begur, Nagapura, Yediyur, Domlur, Hemmigepura, Singasandra and Varthur. Begur ward has two plants, presently, the official mentioned.

The mayor said that the Palike set up its first biogas plant at Kuvempu Nagar. The waste processed at the plant is converted into energy, which is utilised for lighting 40 streetlights in the area.

Meanwhile, Special Commissioner, Solid Waste Management (BBMP), Subodh Yadav said that currently the City generates about 3,500 tonnes of waste everyday and the current capacity of the waste processing units is 2400 tonnes.

“Five more plants, with a total capacity to process 2,000 tonnes, are being set up by the Palike. We can also handle an additional 900 tonnes once the new plants become operational,” he added.

According to the BBMP officials, the new plants will come up at Lingadheeranahalli,  Doddabidarakallu, Seegehalli, Kannenahalli  and Chikka-nagamangala.