Tirupati: In a move towards greener energy, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is building a bio-gas plant to convert food waste into usable fuel. Hans India reports that the plant will process a large amount of organic waste each day, aiming to provide a cleaner energy source for the temple town.
The new facility, located near Gogarbham Dam, will handle “40 tonnes of food and wet waste daily,” according to officials. It will cover “2.22 acres, with an additional 0.17 acres for compost storage.” The project is a joint effort between TTD and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). The total cost is estimated at “Rs 12.85 crore,” with TTD contributing “Rs 5.8 crore” and IOCL providing the remaining “Rs. 7.05 crore.” Construction began in November 2024 with a ground-breaking ceremony.
Once operational, the plant will produce compressed bio-gas (CBG) from the waste. This gas will then be sent through a “2.5 km pipeline” to the Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Anna Prasadam Complex (MTVAC), where meals are prepared for devotees. This will help reduce the temple’s reliance on traditional fuel sources.
Currently, Tirumala uses about “3.335 metric tonnes (MT) of LPG daily.” A solar steam cooking system is already in place to reduce this by about “1.1 MT per day.” The new bio-gas plant is expected to produce “1.752 MT of CBG daily,” using a portion of the available waste.
In addition to the new plant, Tirumala has been working to clear accumulated waste. Officials report that “nearly 2.45 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste” has been processed over the years. While “1.85 lakh MT” has been disposed of, some remains. The town also generates “60-70 MT of dry and wet waste daily.” The Anna Prasadam Complex alone produces “30 tonne food waste, along with five tonnes each of leafy waste, and vegetable, fruit, and flower waste.”
TTD uses technology to manage waste as part of its “Swachh Tirumala” initiative. This effort demonstrates the temple’s commitment to environmental sustainability and effective waste management.
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