Come April, Kumbalangi, the coastal village known for its rural tourism, will set a model in energy conservation and sanitation as well. With 500 more biogas plants being installed in March, this village is all set to become a Panchayat with the most number of domestic plants in the state.
“Kumbalangi already has 850 biogas plants to its credit. We are making all efforts to complete construction of 500 more plants by the end of March,” said Kumbalangi panchayat president Usha Pradeep.
The village residents have extended assistance in setting up biogas plants under “Clean Village Project”, a joint initiative by the Department of Tourism, District Tourism Promotion Council, Suchitwa Mission and the Kumbalangi Model Tourism Development Society.
Villagers are being given biogas plants at a subsidised rate. “The actual cost of the plant is Rs 14,000 but a native of Kumbalangi can set up a plant on the premises of his house at Rs 2000. The rest of the amount is subsidy,” Usha said.
“Plants are being set up by Thiruvananthapuram-based biogas plant consultancy, Biotech, Centre for Development of Biogas Technology and some other non-Conventional energy sources.Each plant will have a capacity to treat 4 kg of waste and will produce gas for two hours consumption,” she said.
According to Usha, these plants will transform Kumbalangi into an energy-sufficient panchayat while providing an effective waste management system.
“If the construction of 500 biogas plants is completed within the stipulated time, the Department of Tourism is willing to aid Kumbalangi for setting up another 500 plants,” Usha said
Usha also stated that the villagers’ response to an awareness programme held at Kumbalangi park on Monday was quite positive.