Mumbai: BMC’s first green project to generate fuel - Biodigester

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started its first green project to generate fuel called ‘Biodigester’ (Biomethanisation plant) in F-south (Parel) office.

The plant was set up recently in ward premises with help of SWM engineers.

With the help of wet garbage, cow dung and non-potable water, the biogas generated from it can be used in canteen for cooking purposes.

The biogas plant at BMC’s F-south office. (HT photo)

About 500 kg of wet waste can produce four to five hours of gas for cooking purposes.

Also, electricity generated by the plant could provide electricity for more than 100 street lights, claims BMC.

The idea was introduced by executive engineer, Uday Shiroorkar of Solid Waste Management (SWM) department also to tackle the dumping problem.

Shirookar and his team started the plant with help of Kerala’s experts of biogas known as ‘Biotech India’ for converting waste to energy.

“Owing to a lack of space there is a serious issue of dumping garbage in the city. Biodigester is the best example of what we can do for reducing the burden of waste and can generate fuel and electricity at a small level,” said Shiroorkar.

He said, “It took nothing in terms of investment, but we got solutions for several problems in one small plant. Even after all the waste gets converted into biogas or electricity, we can use the residue left as organic fertilizer for farming.”

Another officer from F-south ward, assistant engineer Parshuram Kurhade said, “With the biogas generated, we can reduce the LPG usage to four to five hours in our canteen. Also, the wet garbage from canteen such as food waste, vegetable wastes will be used in biodigester plant.”

The plant can also be used to generate electricity with which street lights could be illuminated.

Shiroorkar said, “The one cubic metre biogas the plant produces, can give light to at least 100 street lights. In Kerala, the light facility completely operates on biogas in several market areas.”