UDUPI: Nidhish Shetty and Abhiman H Shetty, two city-based techies have designed an Automatic Garbage Machine (AGM), which has been installed at the Belapu grama panchayat (GP). AGM is the result of our many months’ hardwork and dedication, says Nidhish Shetty, an engineer, who has worked across many foreign countries.
“Garbage is manually sorted with the help of a conveyer belt, and is fed into the machine. This will release the organic waste with less than 5cm dia, which can be then used to produce organic manure or soil conditioner. It compresses the segreated solid waste like pet bottles, plastic to 30 per cent, which can be recycled,” Nidhish Shetty said. “AGMs can be set up in high-rise buildings, apartments and also near garbage collection areas. They can run using single phase power and minimal man power,” said Abhiman Shetty. According to Belapu GP president Deviprasad Shetty, it is mandatory for every GP to submit an affidavit that solid waste management will be introduced in their area.
“We have funds for waste management and sanitation. Moreover, every Nirmal Gram Puraskar awardee GP gets additional funds for this purpose. So far, we did not have technology. With the implementation of AGMs, upto 5 tonnes of solid waste can be managed at the cost of `5 lakh,” Shetty said.
He added, “ZP CEO Prabhakar Sharma has instructed all gram panchayat presidents and district officers to be part of the inaugural.”