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