People lighting a stove using a biogas plant at the Kaloor

The biogas plants of the Kochi Corporation are facing a crisis, as there are not many takers for the gas generated by these units.

The Corporation’s call to the residents to set up units at household level has also failed to evoke a positive response.

Not many people were interested in using the gas generated by the unit at Ernakulam market even when the gas was offered free of cost. The Corporation had to burn out the gas in open to keep the plant going, said Mini Antony, secretary of the Corporation.

The functioning of the plant has been hit for some time, as the gas produced by the unit could not be removed. Now the Corporation is working on a proposal to generate power from the unit. Permission has been issued for the installation of a conversion unit at the plant which will convert the gas from the unit to power. The power that will be generated from the unit will be used for lighting street lamps in the Ernakulam market, said Ms. Antony. The plant that was installed at the abattoir at Kaloor was stopped some time back following the renovation of the abattoir. The abattoir has been renovated as per the guidelines of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the Corporation has applied for permission for running the unit. Once the abattoir starts functioning, the biogas plant will also be made functional, Ms. Antony said.

At the same time, the absence of facilities to supply gas from the unit to those who are willing to use it is the issue faced by the unit at Ravipuram.

The delay on the part of the Corporation authorities to clear the bills of the agency that was entrusted with the task of setting up and running the units has also affected the functioning of some units.

The Corporation owes the agency a considerable amount, which will be cleared soon, said E.M. Sunilkumar, chairman of the Town Planning Standing Committee of the Corporation.

The Corporation embarked on a project to promote the setting up of biogas plants at household levels and also by associations like that of hoteliers during the last garbage crisis.

The Corporation had also announced cash incentives to those households which came forward for setting up the units. The Corporation’s call has failed to enthuse city dwellers. Most of the city residents didn’t respond positively to the call, said Mr. Sunilkumar.

Following the call, a zero garbage scheme was launched at Pachalam division represented by Mr. Sunilkumar at the council and the project was to set up at least 1,000 such units in the division. However, only 50 biogas units could be set up there.

It is the shortage of skilled workers to make biogas units that has hit the project.

The shortage of workforce was the main hurdle in implementing the project, Mr. Sunilkumar said.