Ready to go, but held back by protests

BENGALURU: The path to a cleaner Bengaluru is strewn with mischievous intentions. The latest example can be seen at Gorur village near Ramanagara, where a handful of people have been waging a determined war to prevent the setting up of a plant to convert waste into energy.

These residents who are from nearby villages have resisted the efforts of the state government and BBMP by preventing the company Satarem, from setting up their plant.

As BBMP explores alternate options to dumping garbage in landfills, the setting up of waste processing plants are seen as a viable and safe alternative.

However, the efforts of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and state government to convince the five recalcitrant residents by even arranging a visit to state of the art plant functioning in China has not succeeded.

MD of Satarem, Venkatesh Sivarama says the five are not residents of Gorur, but have managed to exert pressure on the villagers and have instigated them to protest the setting up of the plant. Mr. Sivarama has been trying to convince the villagers to allow them to set up the plant as he is reluctant to coerce them into agreeing to it.

“The government and BBMP have been extending every support possible, including police force for Satarem to set up the plant to process 1,000 metric tones of waste,” he says.

The company is however close to success as the villagers have been convinced through advantages offered like employment generation and green energy, a canteen and a guest house within the premises, he added.

Mr. Sivarama said that about 14 different approvals from different government agencies including Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and KSPCB have been sought. The plant is alternative fuel and energy, an eco-friendly facility which is being implemented for the first time in India.

The plant has capacity to process 1,040 metric tonnes waste per day and is completely enclosed with maximum efficiency and lowest pollution levels meeting European standards. There will be no water or air pollution as the plant will have a concretized base giving no room for the leachate to seep in. The plant is coming up on 17 acres of the 30 acres area which has been purchased by Satarem. The remaining area will be maintained as buffer zone with trees to arrest the spread of pollution.

Technology
A PPP project with BBMP and Satarem costing Rs 275 crore burns the segregated or non-segregated waste with co-combustion technology and reduces the waste to residual bottom ash. The ash will be utilized to make construction materials like cement bricks and paved blocks. Electricity will be generated from the heat generated by co-combustion and it would be sent to the grid. The plant will be free from odours, bird menace, stray dogs, air, and water and ground pollution. Besides, Satarem will take up corporate social activities like community hall, clinic, ambulance facility and scholarship to students.