Indore: Plans to run buses on bio-fuel made from vegetable-waste
The industrial hub of Indore, popular for its mouth-watering "poha" and other snacks, is in a spick and span form after bagging the cleanest city tag in the "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" for the second year. For better waste management, the city civic body plans to run public transport buses on the bio-Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) made from the vegetable waste. Here are more details.
IMC has set up bio-methanation plant
Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has set up a bio-methanation plant at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Fruits and Vegetables Market. The plant can convert about 20-tons of waste into 1,000kg of bio-CNG. Asad Warsi, IMC's consultant under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, said: "Tests were being conducted to run some auto rickshaws on the bio-CNG fuel. If results are promising, then we'll run 20 buses on this fuel."
Bio-CNG is expected to be cheaper by Rs. 5
"The bio-GNG is expected to be cheaper by Rs. 5 as compared to normal CNG. Therefore, with use of about 1,000kg of bio-CNG, there could be a saving of Rs. 5,000 on fuel-expenses of these buses. That means, a saving of Rs. 1.5L/month," Warsi said.
IMC also wants to generate bio-CNG from meat products
The civic body also wants to generate bio-CNG from the waste of meat products like mutton, chicken and fish, the official said, adding that comparatively more bio-fuel can be generated from raw meat. The consultant said the IMC plans to set up two more bio-methanation units to increase the production of bio-CNG to nearly 4,000kg, so as to run about 70 buses on it.
Civic body to also convert hair waste into amino acid
Besides, the IMC has signed an agreement with the NGO, Sarthak, to convert the daily hair waste - around eight quintals generated in nearly 15,000 salons in the city - into an amino acid. The human hair is a good source of amino acid. Sarthak's secretary said, adding that about 12 liters of amino acid can be prepared by processing nearly 1,000kg of hair.
Indore was adjudged as cleanest city in the country
Indore was adjudged as the cleanest city in the country, in the government Swachhta survey released a few days back. According to a rough estimate, Indore is inhabited by about 35 lakh people who daily produce nearly 1,100 tons of garbage - 650 tons of wet and 450 tons of dry garbage - which is safely disposed of.
