KOCHI: Ten biogas plants to convert degradable waste from households started functioning in the Pachalam division of the City Corporation on Sunday.

The initiative of the people to tackle the waste generated in their homes came at a time when the corporation which had announced the setting up of biogas plants in markets and slaughterhouses was doing nothing about the proposal.

The 10 plants that were inaugurated at Pachalam were the first in a series to be set up in the division, said E.M. Sunilkumar, chairman of the Town Planning Standing committee and also the division councillor.

Each unit would cost around Rs.8,500. It would process three to five kg of biodegradable waste and would be capable of generating biogas which could burn for three hours.

The units were set up with the technological help of the Rajagiri School of Social Sciences.

The plants were set up with 10 individuals shelling out money from their pockets. However, the Union Bank of India had come forward to fund such initiatives. It had sanctioned loans for 50 persons from the division who had applied for assistance to set up the units. The target of 50 biogas units in the division would be complete by the year-end, said Mr. Sunilkumar.

The delay in obtaining special biogas stoves was the only hurdle before those willing to set up the plants. As the stoves were not manufactured in Kerala and had to be brought from Gujarat, there was a delay in getting the sufficient numbers on time, he said.

Mayor Mercy Williams inaugurated the plant. C.K. Manisankar, Deputy Mayor, A.B. Sabu, UDF parliamentary party leader in corporation, N.G. Gangadharan, representative of the Residents' Association, P.C. Jacob, district vice-president of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, and V. Sivaraman and Joshy Varghese of the Rajagiri School of Social Sciences were present at the inaugural function.

The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor also visited a plant set up in the division to process waste from a chicken stall, said Mr. Sunilkumar.

Indecision

Though two firms - Kerala Agro Plantation Corporation and Jyothi Biogas - had submitted tenders to set up biogas plants in markets and slaughterhouses, the Health Standing Committee had not taken a decision on the agency that would set up the units. The delay on the part of the committee to take the decision had invited the displeasure of the Mayor at the last Corporation Council meeting.

The committee had not yet scheduled the next meeting, said a member.

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