Chennai: Notice to agency for failure to maintain bio-gas plant

Chennai: The Koyambedu market administration recently issued a termination notice to a private agency for its failure to maintain the bio-gas plant at the Koyambedu market premises.

Totally defeating its purpose of installation, the bio-gas plant at the Koyambedu market premises often conked off, forcing traders to dump their perishable vegetables and fruits out in the open. 

The plant was installed in 2006 by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the task of maintaining the plant was handed over to a private agency, but frequent failure of the plant was intermittently reported.

According to sources, since the biggest market complex in the city has been generating around 30 to 40 tonnes of waste per day, the bio-gas plant would usually produce 1,000 to 3,000 units of electricity a day. 

The power thus generated was used to light up the entire market complex, and sometimes it was even used  to light the premises of the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), where many lamp posts and high-mast lamps are installed.

V. R. Soundararajan, president of Koyambedu Wholesale Traders Association, and member of the Market Management Committee (MMC), blamed the CMDA officials for not taking any steps to operate the plant. 

"As far as I know, the bio-gas plant installed at a cost of Rs 8 crore, has not worked at all," he said, adding that the concerned officials have wasted the tax payers' money.

"The plant operators state that they can operate the plant only if they receive at least 50 tonnes of raw materials (vegetable wastes). It had been functioning very well in the beginning. It is just an excuse to slip away," Soundararajan added.

The non-functioning of the plant has paved way for traders to throw rotten vegetables and fruits in open places. "We have no option, but to throw the perishables only in the dustbins. Moreover, there are not  as many dustbins in the premises. Such a problem will not arise, had the biogas plant been operational," said a trader in the market.

When sought for his comments by DC, Rajendran, Chief Administrative Officer, Koyambedu market, said,  "It is true that the biogas plant is not working. Despite repeated complaints, the private agency continued to turn a blind eye. Hence, we have sent a termination notice."