Hyderabad: A biogas project at Osmania University (OU) that has been running for more than 800 consecutive days has earned Zoology professor C. Srinivasulu recognition as a changemaker at Saahas@25. The initiative converts organic waste generated on campus into energy and manure, supporting more sustainable resource use, Deccan Chronicle reported.
Srinivasulu received the recognition on October 9 at the India International Centre in New Delhi during the silver jubilee celebrations of Saahas, an organisation engaged in solid waste management and resource recovery.
The university’s biogas plant can process two tonnes of organic waste daily. Set up within a short period, the facility handles green organic waste from the campus and puts the resulting products to practical use. The biogas supplies two university kitchens, while the nutrient-rich slurry is used to maintain the campus gardens.
The initiative has established a system in which organic waste is processed into useful resources rather than simply being discarded. According to a statement, this approach reduces the volume of waste requiring disposal while recovering energy and manure from materials generated on campus.
Congratulating Srinivasulu, OU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram said the project showed how environmental sustainability could be implemented in everyday institutional operations. He highlighted the use of biogas for cooking and the application of the resulting slurry in gardens as examples of converting organic waste into valuable resources. He also said the initiative could be replicated by other educational institutions.
Saahas was founded in 2001 by Wilma Rodrigues to promote waste recovery, reuse and the efficient circulation of resources. Its 25th anniversary programme honoured individuals and initiatives that have contributed to environmental sustainability.
