MCC to join hands with BPCL to make Mysuru zero-waste city

Mysuru: The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), which has been experimenting with several solid waste management (SWM) methods, has now planned a Rs 65 crore SWM plant, to convert organic waste into biogas.

The MCC has joined hands with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), for providing a sustainable solution in daily waste management. Once operational, the plant will process around 200 tonnes of organic waste every day. While addressing the challenges of waste management, it will generate renewable energy. Mysuru city generates around 600 tonnes of solid waste every day.

According to MCC Commissioner Sheikh Tanveer Asif, BPCL's proposal has been forwarded to the government and approval is awaited.

The MCC has already identified the site for the facility, near the sewage plant at Vidyaranyapuram, in Mysuru. This will reduce the burden on the existing dumping yards. The BPCL will use the Compressed BioGas (CBG) fuel, produced from the organic waste.

Once this project becomes operational, it will help the MCC to clear around 7 lakh tonne of legacy waste, of which around 40 per cent has been already processed.

The project will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, from decomposing waste, but will also promote renewable energy generation.

The BPCL will set up and operate the CBG plant, with its own funds or as a private partnership. BPCL has won many accolades for design and execution of complex projects in the refining and petrochemical sectors. It will execute the CBG project through technology providers and contractors. Besides, the BPCL will engage project management consultants, involved in the development of the site and compound, commissioning of the plant, long-term operation and maintenance of the plant, offtake of CBG and byproducts including bio-manure.

Benefits to MCC

The benefits to the MCC from the proposed CBG project are: it will provide an opportunity to the MCC to synchronise several government programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart/Sustainable Cities, Clean Air, Organic Farming, Energy Security, and Make in India.

The MCC can contribute to making India an energy independent country through production of Bio CNG through this project. The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus air pollution. During monsoon, the leachate spoils water bodies. This project will mitigate the water pollution problem.

Speaking to DH, MCC Assistant Executive Engineer Mrutyunjaya said, the BPCL has already submitted a technical feasibility report on the biogas plant. They are investing Rs 65 crore. The MCC will provide land for 20 years, and will also supply waste for production of biogas every day. The company is demanding 10 acres of land, and discussion is on in this regard.

On the land availability, he said, processing of legacy waste is under progress. The reclaimed land will be handed over to the BPCL.

On the benefits to the MCC, he said, the biogas plant is an environment-friendly and sustainable project.

SATAT scheme

The project has been taken up under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme, launched in 2018.

It aims to promote CBG production and usage as a sustainable and affordable alternative fuel, encouraging entrepreneurs to set up CBG plants and make biogas available for automotive use.

The Union government has given targets to all public sector units (PSU), to set up such plants across the country. Hence, all PSUs are venturing into it and coming forward to invest, he said.

The biogas generated will be purified and converted into CBG and sold by the BPCL. This is likely to be the first initiative by a PSU in Mysuru region, he added.

It may be mentioned that the MCC has already established two small biogas units at a cost of Rs 98 lakh each, in two wards of Mysuru city, to convert wet waste into biogas. The biogas is used for the crematorium and to operate streetlights on the burial grounds.