Biogas plants go dead

KOCHI: The biogas plants set up in Thrikkakara municipality market are defunct, thanks to the  negligence of the authorities concerned. The functioning of the biogas plants meant for processing waste and generating electricity have come to a standstill, owing to the tussle between the municipality authorities and the Biotech company which was entrusted with the operation.However, Biotech officials said that though the functioning of the plant was stopped for a week, it was functioning properly now. “We stopped the operations for about a week because the  local body did not make the due payment, but now it is back to normal,” said Biotech company director Saji Das.Though they claim that the plants are operational, the garbage dumped on one side of the market proves otherwise. Besides, the sources with the company also confirmed that the new plant was not working as all the  required equipment was yet to arrive.The biogas plant, installed in 2008, has the capacity to process 250 kg of waste while the new plant can process 750 kg. But sources have confirmed that the former is not even processing 50 kg of waste whereas the latter is completely defunct.Radhakrishnan (name changed) who is running a chicken stall in the market said, “Though there is a biogas plant here we cannot put the waste in it. Hence, we have to take it to the nearby pig market which costs us around Rs 400.”He also said that they accept fish waste and discard other waste and leave it in the open. Despite these hurdles, many shopkeepers in the market have to pay money for buy diesel for operating the generator.Shanavas ( name changed) who is running a fish stall in the market said, “we have to give Rs 150 to buy diesel to work the generator which is connected to the biogas plant.”The ensuing tussle between the authorities is adding up the woes.“The Thrikkakara municipality authorities has not taken any steps to supply electricity and so many shopkeepers in the market use our electric lines illegally,“ said Saji Das.