<p>Hubballi: When the plant to convert dry waste into torrefied charcoal is yet to start functioning, a plan is underway to establish a facility for producing compressed biogas (CBG) from wet waste being generated in the twin cities.</p><p>The quantity of wet waste being generated in the twin cities at present is around 210 tonnes per day. Under Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has come forward to set up a CBG plant. However, the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has to provide 10 acres of land, and supply 144 tonnes of </p><p>wet waste daily for this plant. If materialised, this is considered as a permanent solution for treating wet waste. Moreover, it is also hailed as an eco-friendly move when the demand for fuel is increasing. The civic body is already converting a portion of wet waste into compost.</p><p><strong>Feasibility report</strong></p><p>The BPCL’s willingness to set up CBG plant to treat wet waste in Hubballi-Dharwad has come after it conducted a survey and prepared the feasibility report. As per the plan, the plant can generate five tonnes of CBG daily after processing 144 tonnes of wet waste.</p><p>HDMC officials have proposed to give 10 acres of land on a free lease for 25 years to the BPCL at Shivalli village where the corporation has 67 acres of land. The HDMC’s general body has to approve to provide land, wet waste and cooperation to the BPCL. If this project gets materialised, the BPCL itself would bear Rs 68 crore for setting up the CBG plant, and Rs 7.53 crore annual maintenance cost, officials explained.</p><p>“Wet waste except greens and browns (leaves and branches) has to be provided to the CBG plant, while transportation cost will not be much, as waste can be shifted in trucks of 20 tonne-capacity each. Moreover, the HDMC will not have the huge burden of processing, while remaining wet waste can be converted into compost as windrow units for this purpose are already functioning,” said HDMC Executive Engineer (solid waste management) Malikarjun B M. If the CBG plant is set up, more focus could be laid on segregation of waste and creating awareness among the residents.</p><p>At Shivalli, the HDMC has already reserved 27 acres of land for sanitary landfill site and leachate treatment plant planned at a cost of Rs 4.39 crore, five acres for construction and demolition debris treatment plant, and 25 acres for green belt. Thus, 10 acres of land is still available at Shivalli.</p><p>If the HDMC’s general body gives its nod, formalities will be completed soon and BPCL’s plant is expected to be ready in two years after getting the approval from the state cabinet, officials said.</p><p><strong>Torrefied charcoal</strong></p><p>Meanwhile, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is in the process of setting up a plant near Gabbur, to convert combustible (dry) waste into torrefied charcoal, on 12 acres of land provided by the HDMC. The civic body has to supply 200 tonnes of combustible and 25 KL of water daily to the plant.</p><p>“Civil works of the plant have begun, and it is expected to be functional within one year,” said HDMC Commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi.</p>
<p>Hubballi: When the plant to convert dry waste into torrefied charcoal is yet to start functioning, a plan is underway to establish a facility for producing compressed biogas (CBG) from wet waste being generated in the twin cities.</p><p>The quantity of wet waste being generated in the twin cities at present is around 210 tonnes per day. Under Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has come forward to set up a CBG plant. However, the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has to provide 10 acres of land, and supply 144 tonnes of </p><p>wet waste daily for this plant. If materialised, this is considered as a permanent solution for treating wet waste. Moreover, it is also hailed as an eco-friendly move when the demand for fuel is increasing. The civic body is already converting a portion of wet waste into compost.</p><p><strong>Feasibility report</strong></p><p>The BPCL’s willingness to set up CBG plant to treat wet waste in Hubballi-Dharwad has come after it conducted a survey and prepared the feasibility report. As per the plan, the plant can generate five tonnes of CBG daily after processing 144 tonnes of wet waste.</p><p>HDMC officials have proposed to give 10 acres of land on a free lease for 25 years to the BPCL at Shivalli village where the corporation has 67 acres of land. The HDMC’s general body has to approve to provide land, wet waste and cooperation to the BPCL. If this project gets materialised, the BPCL itself would bear Rs 68 crore for setting up the CBG plant, and Rs 7.53 crore annual maintenance cost, officials explained.</p><p>“Wet waste except greens and browns (leaves and branches) has to be provided to the CBG plant, while transportation cost will not be much, as waste can be shifted in trucks of 20 tonne-capacity each. Moreover, the HDMC will not have the huge burden of processing, while remaining wet waste can be converted into compost as windrow units for this purpose are already functioning,” said HDMC Executive Engineer (solid waste management) Malikarjun B M. If the CBG plant is set up, more focus could be laid on segregation of waste and creating awareness among the residents.</p><p>At Shivalli, the HDMC has already reserved 27 acres of land for sanitary landfill site and leachate treatment plant planned at a cost of Rs 4.39 crore, five acres for construction and demolition debris treatment plant, and 25 acres for green belt. Thus, 10 acres of land is still available at Shivalli.</p><p>If the HDMC’s general body gives its nod, formalities will be completed soon and BPCL’s plant is expected to be ready in two years after getting the approval from the state cabinet, officials said.</p><p><strong>Torrefied charcoal</strong></p><p>Meanwhile, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is in the process of setting up a plant near Gabbur, to convert combustible (dry) waste into torrefied charcoal, on 12 acres of land provided by the HDMC. The civic body has to supply 200 tonnes of combustible and 25 KL of water daily to the plant.</p><p>“Civil works of the plant have begun, and it is expected to be functional within one year,” said HDMC Commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi.</p>