In a first for Goa, Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has started a bio-methanation plant to counter the problem of solid waste management that has been plaguing the city for decades. This is the first-of-its-kind plant in the state which has the capacity to treat 5 tonnes of waste per day. As per the officials of the MMC, depending on the success of this pilot project, additional plants will be established at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority market as well.
2 mega bio-methanation plants at Sonsodo in the pipeline
Apart from the two 5 TPD bio-methanation plants that are proposed to be established by the MMC in the near future, two mega 25 TPD bio-methanation plants at Sonsodo are also in the pipeline. Built at the cost of ₹2.4 crores, this plant will be run and maintained by Urja Bio-System Agency for five years.
Plant to generate around 450 units of power every day
Notably, apart from treating 5000 kilograms of fish, chicken and vegetable waste generated in the SGPDA market, the bio-methanation plant will generate about 450 units of power while churning out bio-fertiliser, every day. According to the reports, the civic body is expected to earn a revenue of about ₹10,000 per day through the sale of power and the bio-fertiliser. Moreover, if the MMC supports the electrification, the electricity produced by the plant can be used to light up the street lights in the SGPDA complex. While the revenue from this plant may accumulate to around ₹3 lakh a month, MMC is obliged to pay operational and maintenance cost to Urja Bio-Systems Pvt Ltd. which will account to about ₹1-1.5 lakh, per month.
