12.4.11

Somewhere in Bangalore....

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), in collaboration with BBMP, will set up 16 biomethanation plants that convert garbage into gaseous fuel which can be converted into electricity. BARC scientist Sharad P Kale met BBMP officials on Monday to take the project forward. Unlike conventional biogas plants that can process only human waste and cow dung, Nisargruna plants can process all biodegradable waste. Nisargruna is a biogas system developed by BARC for treating urban domestic waste. The city generates about 3,200 tonnes of garbage every day. The first project will be started at Mathikere on April 25. “With this project, we can process waste generated in markets and reduce the load to the landfill. Its successful implementation can make the city cleaner and self-sufficient,” mayor S K Nataraj said. But Kale said the project can be successful only if garbage segregation begins at household level. “We want to make it a dumping yard-free society. We have no rights to call something as waste,” he said. Nataraj has his own arguments. “Segregation at source cannot happen so easily. It takes at least 10-15 years for our society to be sensitive and start segregating at home,” he said. Segregated waste will be put into a mixer and stored in a tank. Microbes will be introduced to the slurry and will be treated with hot water which will be supplied through solar heater. The mixture enters the main tank where it will be treated in anaerobic conditions. The methane that comes out will be stored and the byproduct generated is rich slurry which can be used as odourless organic manure. One tonne of waste can generate 60 cubic metres of gas and 50 kg of manure. Further, the gaseous fuel can be converted into electricity with the help of generator and can be used to light 250 streetlights for 10 hours. Methane gas can be used as kitchen fuel to run a canteen. BARC has implemented this project on its campus. The cost of the plant is Rs 5 lakh. Mathikere in Aramanenagar ward, SKR Market in Chamarajpet, Nagapura, Gandhinagar, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Devarachikkanahalli in Bommanahalli, Jayanagar, Pattabhiramnagar, Koramangala, Domlur, Sankey Road, KR Road, Kaverinagar, KR Puram market, Kenchenahalli village, Kuvempu Nagar are the sites chosen to set up these plants.

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