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The Koyambedu wholesale market complex (KWMC), the point of conglomeration from where vegetables, fruits and flowers are distributed for retail sale in Chennai, has invited tenders for conversion of the solid waste it generates into power and nutrient-rich vermicompost. This comes as the next step of modernization for the market, which was moved from its chaotic location in Kotwal Chawdi in the congestion of North Chennai to its present location at the modern complex built by Chennai metropolitan development authority (CMDA) at Koyambedu, a decade back.

The tender, invited by CMDA and the market management committee (MMC) is for primary and secondary collection, segregation and transportation of solid waste, construction of a 50 TPD mechanized refuse transfer station, and a 40 TPD compost processing facility. The market, housing 3194 shops, of which 2000 are operational, over an area of 60 acres, generates 150 TPD (tonnes per day) of solid waste. Presently, the CMDA runs a bio-methanation plant that converts 30 TPD of waste to 250 KW of power, supplied to the Tamil Nadu electricity board’s grid at the rate of Rs.3.15 per unit.

“But, the waste is collected in a fragmented manner, by four different parties, resulting in even the 30 TPD plant being underutilized often,” said an official from ICRA, which is the tender consultant.In fact, TN energy development agency had to order for diversion of waste from hotels nearby to supply waste to the plant. The plant presently runs only eight hours per day and generates 900 kwh (units) of power.

From its feasibility study, ICRA has found that the plant, if operated 24 hours per day with 40 TPD of waste, can generate 4000 kwh.Valued at a net worth of Rs.10 crore, the tender also includes operation and maintenance of the bio-methanation plant, and disposal of final rejects to the city corporation’s landfill site at Kodungaiyur.

While the power generated will continue to be sold to the TNEB, vermicompost manure obtained from the remaining 120 TPD of waste, can be sold in the open market at Rs.1.50 per kg. The conversion rate from waste to manure is typically 50%.It is estimated the winning bidder will have to spend Rs. 30-35 lakh per month on operations and maintenance. MMC, which has so far been spending Rs.55 lakh per annum on the bio-methanation plant, will cover viability gap funding for the winning bidder, operating on a public private partnership model.

KWMC receives 500 trucks carrying 10 tonnes of farm produce each everyday, and serves one lakh customers, with a daily turnover of Rs.1.25 crores.


Source - Economic Times