The Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is looking at the possibility of improving the technical know-hows of the `550 lakh Ramky Bio-methanation Plant in Koyambedu, which is currently hit by technical snag and has failed to generate power for the last seven to eight months.
BARC senior scientist from the technical coordination wing, J Daniel Chellappa told City Express that the atomic centre is conducting a feasibility study on how to improve the technology as well as the design of the bio-methanation plant.
“We could even look at improving the capacity,” he said. Currently, the plant has a capacity of using 30 metric tonnes of waste to generate power. Market Management Committee officials confirmed that the plant, which was generating power from vegetable and fruit waste collected from the wholesale market, has evoked a lot of interest from the Central Leather Research Institute and Bhaba Atomic Research Centre. They are working on proposals to improve the technical know-how of the plant.
Meanwhile, the plant which was to generate 2500 units of power a day by processing about 30 metric tonnes of the 150 metric tonnes of waste collected from the market, is likely to generate power by the end of January next year.
MMC officials told City Express that due to the fault in the generator, the bio-methanation plant was not able to upload the power on to the grid. The Market Management Committee officials have levied fine on Ramky for its failure to generate power. Although, the quantum of fine levied is not known but it is believed it would be worth several lakh of rupees.
Currently, Ramky would be importing the machine as in India, no one manufactures this sort of machine. By next month end, the machinery would be imported and the plant would be generating power, a MMC official said.
Officials said that the remaining 120 tonnes of waste was being kept in a transit station behind the market and was shifted to the dumpyard, thereafter.
The MMC officials also stated that the market is cleaned regularly and the result could be seen only around 6 pm.
MMC officials said that the menace of cows entering the market has been a big headache. If the market is walled, then all these issues including encroachment could be avoided.
The CMDA already has a proposal to wall the market, and traders and officials say that the measure should be taken up immediately.