Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

`Effective microbes solution has helped contain fly menace'

Special Correspondent

Demonstration part of World Environment Day celebrations

ELIMINATING POLLUTION: A Rapid Action Force vehicle sprays effective microbes solution on garbage dumped at the Vellalore garbage yard during a demonstration organised by Siruthuli on Tuesday. — Photo: K. Ananthan

COIMBATORE: Siruthuli, a public initiative to conserve water resources, claimed on Tuesday that the use of effective microbes (EM) solution on the garbage dumps at the Coimbatore Corporation's compost yard at Vellalore near the city had helped contain the menace of flies.

In the absence of a disposal system, thousands of tonnes of accumulated waste had attracted flies that also invaded houses in the residential colonies around the yard.

Siruthuli had offered to contain the problem, apart from also expressing interest in carrying out a waste disposal programme at the yard.

The organisation demonstrated the use of the solution on the garbage dumps and also on the sewage lagoons to eliminate stink.

The demonstration was part of the World Environment Day celebrations it had organised at the yard.

In a press release, Siruthuli said about 600 tonnes of garbage and 100 million litres of sewage water was being generated every day.

The garbage consisted of both organic and inorganic matter.

At present, there was no proper method adopted in the city for segregating organic and inorganic waste at the point of generation (at homes or commercial establishments) and also treatment or recycling of sewage water.

The estimated accumulated and unsegregated garbage at the yard was about four-lakh tonnes.

This caused pollution and turned life difficult in the residential areas in Vellalore and Kurichi. Similarly, the sewage pumped from the two pumping stations to four lagoons in garbage yard had led to bad odour and attracted flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes and other insects.

These proved to be a health hazard for the residents, especially children.

Siruthuli studied the problems faced by the residents, the motorists and the dwellers en route.

With the help of experienced environmentalists a programme was implemented by using the microbes solution for the last 10 months.

There were millions of microbes on earth and most of them were helpful and beneficial to humans.

The release said that effective micro-organisms were used for agriculture, hygiene management and solid waste management.

These organisms not only hastened the process of composting biodegradable waste, but also prevented foul odour and helped keep flies away.

These organisms could turn organic solid waste, including kitchen garbage into manure.

The technology also helped obtain high quality compost that would improve crop yield and quality.

It had been used worldwide for more than 20 years in over 120 countries including Japan, South East Asia and Europe.

The micro-organisms' uniqueness was that what humans considered as contaminated was actually their food.

EM detoxified contaminated water and soil and facilitated the restoration of an ideal biological balance.

The monthly average cost for spraying the EM solution on the fresh waste and lagoon sewager cost Rs. 4 lakh.

Of the ten months' expenses of Rs. 45 lakh, the Coimbatore Corporation provided Rs.21 lakh to cover four months' expenditure.

The rest was contributed by Siruthuli as its contribution to solve the problem of accumulating garbage at the yard.

Siruthuli said the solution would be sprayed from two lorries belonging to the Rapid Action Force unit stationed near the yard.

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