Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Aug 29: The landslide of the city garbage pile at Pachanady last year which displaced many people and buried houses and properties, seems to have given rise to a sense of urgency to utilise garbage for other purposes. The dry waste poses a huge problem. Now, a plan to generate electricity by using the waste is being executed.
The plan envisages use of dry waste produced in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district on a daily basis to produce about five megawatts of power. Karnataka chief secretary, T M Vijay Bhaskar, who had visited the spot after the Pachanady garbage dump tragedy happened, had considered the option of generating power from waste. He also had written to Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) managing director, Ponnuraj. Thereafter, KPCL officials had visited the city, conducted checks, and informed the district administration that the plan is feasible if dry waste of both Mangaluru and Udupi cities are put to use. The officials said that this plan is broadly in the stage of getting implemented.
Pachanady dumping yard (file photo)
KPCL is making preparations to use about 300 tonnes of dry waste from the twin districts to produce power. Power can be generated by using all kinds of things including wood waste, clothes, tyres etc. The two districts generate about 500 tonnes of dry waste on a daily basis. The plan is to use this waste to produce 11 mw power. This project may come up on a plot of about 15 acres.
As many as 300 tonnes of dry waste is required for five watt power generation. In the past, a plan had been envisaged to produce fuel by using waste from the city. A plan had been drawn up to execute the project at a cost of Rs 100 crore at Pachanady, but the plan remained on paper. This plan has now been given a new lease of life, officials stated.
Deputy commissioner Dr K V Rajendra, said that KPCL has put up a proposal of converting waste into energy, and that a decision would be taken by discussing the matter with the deputy commissioner of Udupi district.