KERALA’S 1ST WASTE TO ENERGY PROJECT AT PATHANAPURAM GRAMA PANCHAYAT

When we think of a market the first thing that comes to our mind is the filthy huge heap of organic waste with, barking dogs fighting for the garbage, flies and mosquitoes roaming around the waste. This unhealthy situation arises due to the absence of proper waste management system in each source where waste is generated. This picture of public market is a perennial headache for the local administration authorities like Panchayat, Municipality and Corporation. They are in search of a real way out for cleaning and clearing the public places as part of their great responsibility of Clean Kerala.

Pathanapuram Panchayat in Kollam District situated close to the fringes of Western Ghats was also facing such a severe waste management problem in the public market under their control. The then President of the Panchayat attended a Seminar in Trivandrum where she heard a presentation on how organic waste could be effectively managed at source and how it could be utilized for energy generation and electrification of market. The presentation was made by the DIRECTOR, M/S BIOTECH an Implementing Agency of Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of India with twenty years solid background in waste to energy programme. It was new information for the Presidents of Grama Panchayats better to say, a source of relief. But the 1st initiative was from Pathanapuram Grama Pahchayat. An Expert Committee from BIOTECH soon visited the Public Market analysed the problems and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared and handed over to the Panchayat Committee. The project proposed was based on Universally accepted biogas technology and all easily biodegradable waste could be effectively put to anaerobic digestion resulting in production of methane gas a renewable source of energy which could well be used for generation of electricity. Convinced, the Committee unanimously adopted the resolution to install a 250 Kg. Organic Waste Treatment Plant on a trial basis for energy generation and electrification of the public market. The project was formally commissioned on October 2003.

The Panchayat committee closely observed the performance of the project and made a decision to go for the second 250 Kg. Organic Waste Treatment Plant near the existing plant. Now 500 Kg. of organic waste generated in the market, mainly slaughter house waste, fish waste, vegetable waste and waste water, is effectively managed every day and 3 KW electricity is generated which in turn is used for lighting in the market and running the machinery attached to the plant. To ensure proper handling and careful operation of the plant M/s BIOTECH has imparted the job training to the operator appointed by the Panchayat. BIOTECH officials make frequent visit to the project site to see that the plant is functioning well. Yet another speciality of the project is that M/s BIOTECH has incorporated a technology for filtering the gas generated enabling purified methane gas supply to the Generator to protect the Generator from being get rusted or corroded. This project is commissioned by investing Rs. 11 lakh and M/s BIOTECH the Implementing Agency arranged a sum of Rs. 55,000/- as subsidy for the said project. This project still remains to be an eye opener and a model to all the local bodies, who started following the footsteps of Pathanapuram Grama Panchayat. No doubt Pathanapuram Panchayat deserves every credit for pioneering and revolutionizing the eco-friendly waste management project.