Chennai: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has directed officials to expand biogas plants in Tamil Nadu to improve solid waste management and generate power.During Vijay’s surprise inspection of the 100-tonne-per-day biogas plant in Chetpet on Monday, officials explained how it processes wet waste using microorganisms that break down organic waste (such as manure, food scraps and sewage) in an airtight, oxygen-free container, which ferments for several weeks, while bacteria convert it into a gas rich in methane and carbon dioxide. The plant was inaugurated in 2022 and is managed by Srinivas Waste Management Solutions. It generates revenue of Rs 1.2 crore annually.Vijay told officials to extend it to 25 more corporations and approved a detailed project report for Vellore, Erode, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Nagercoil corporations. He was accompanied by municipal administration and water supply department secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi and GCC commissioner GS Sameeran.“Currently three plants of 100 TPD capacity are being run, one at Sholignanallur and two at Koyambedu. Once two more plants at Madhavaram and Sholinganallur are ready, the capacity will soon increase to 800 tonnes,” an official said.
