MARGAO: The
environmental audit of the biogas plant installed at South Goa Planning and
Development Authority (SGPDA) by the Margao Municipal Council has raised some
serious issues—starting with the difficulties faced by the operator of the
plant to dispose of the digested slurry.
There is no mechanism established to measure the incoming waste
and to maintain the required ratio of the waste to water, stated the report.
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The environmental audit was prepared by Dr Sachin Tendulkar,
chief executive officer of the Mineral Foundation of Goa; Dr Jagannath Hirkude,
professor, Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi; Abhinav Apte, director, Track
Change LLP and Pravin Faldesai, Goa State Pollution Control Board.
As a priority,the audit has pointed out that the power
generation engine is not connected to the GRID/GED. Presently, the power
generated is partly utilised for self-consumption only and the power generating
unit is operated on neutral load.
Further, the report stated that the flaring unit is not connected
to the plant. Based on site visits, it is noted that there is a mismatch
between the waste utilised in the plant, gas generated and consumed, and the
electrical power generated.
The experts have stated in their report that the operation of
such a biodigester requires consent from the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
In the conclusions, it has been stated that based on the data
analysed. It is evident that the biogas plant is not being used to its
capacity, and this is due to disposal of digestate and utilisation of
electricity generated, the report concluded.
It is pertinent to note that recently, Ghanashyam Shirodkar,
councillor of Margao Municipal Council has charged that the plant is a scam and
had strongly refused to allow the same company to install more waste treatment
plants in the jurisdiction of the civic body.
The biogas plant has been in operation since July 5.
