Modern Waste-to-Energy Plant at Chalai soon

By Express News Service - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Published: 15th November 2012 12:35 PM

Last Updated: 15th November 2012 12:35 PM

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  A model of the proposed modern waste treatment plant at Chalai.

An Integrated Municipal Solid Waste to Energy Plant, which will generate electricity from waste by gasification process, will come up at Chalai by March next year. This will be the first of the three modern waste management plants to come up in the city, said Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali here on Wednesday.

 Loro Group has won the bid to construct the waste treatment plant at Chalai. According to the Minister, the Chalai plant will resemble a ‘shopping mall’ in its looks. “There will be no leachate, foul smell, air or water pollution,” the Minister said. Solid waste will be directly fed to the plant. Since the waste is disposed using gasification, sanitary landfilling is not needed, he said.

 The Chalai plant will treat 35 tonnes of waste per day and is expected to produce 3.2 mega watts of electricity from it. The Minister said two acres of land had been identified at Chalai for the purpose. Though the Minister said two other plants would come up in Thiruvananthapuram, he did not disclose the locations.  Ali said that there had been a 50-per cent reduction in waste generation with the introduction of pipe-compost units and biowaste plants in houses and shops.

 Around 42 companies had participated in the tender, of which 12 were shortlisted. Loro Group emerged  the successful bidder. The Pollution Control Board has given clearance for setting up the plant,  Ali added.

 The Minister said unlike the Vilappilsala plant, the modern waste management plant will throw up no pollution issues.  An agreement on the garbage baling unit will be finalised in one-and-a-half months, he added.

 When asked about the move to dispose of waste in abandoned quarries, the Minister said that the proposal was still under consideration. “But we will consider the concerns of the public,” Ali said.

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