Chennai, 16 December (H.S.) : The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is planning a new initiative to introduce biogas plants in its schools. The move aims to encourage the use of clean energy for cooking, reduce reliance on costly LPG cylinders, and educate students on sustainable waste management.

The project will target school campuses with centralized kitchens that generate large amounts of vegetable and food waste daily, maximizing the utilization of the generated gas.

Implementation Strategy: Chennai Corporation Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran stated that the civic body plans to collaborate with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), individuals, and residents' welfare associations to execute the project.

Pilot Phase: As a pilot, the GCC is considering setting up biogas plants at four cloud kitchens which generate large quantities of waste. These units, which integrate composting and biogas generation, are cost-effective and require minimal maintenance.

Successful Model: The plan follows the successful installation of a 75-kg capacity biogas plant at a Corporation higher secondary school in South Chennai last month. This unit, which cost ₹5.7 lakh, processes 15 to 20 kg of food waste daily to prepare breakfast for about 10 Corporation schools. It is estimated to save one LPG cylinder every two months.

Beyond energy savings, the biogas plants generate slurry that can be converted into compost, allowing for gardening and small-scale cultivation on campus. This creates a self-sustaining system that links waste management, energy production, and environmental education.

A similar facility set up in an Adyar Corporation school last year saved seven LPG cylinders over ten months while diverting 3,200 kg of wet waste from disposal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary