Tirupati Temple to get biogas plant with the help of IOCL

The religious places are often the biggest generators of biodegradable or bio-waste in the country. Presenting an example in scientific waste management, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has partnered with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) to establish a 40-ton biogas plant at Tirumala in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh.

The foundation stone of the biogas project was laid by the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary. He was accompanied by IOCL Executive Director and State Head, B. Anil Kumar.

The biogas plant spans over 2.22 acres, with an additional 0.17 acres allocated for compost storage, and is designed to produce 40 tons of biogas on a daily basis. Upon completion, the biogas generated from mixed wastes will be transported through a 2.5 km pipeline to the Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Anna Prasadam Complex (MTVAC).

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams announced that the project, costing Rs 12.85 crore, will be jointly funded, with the temple contributing Rs 5.80 crore and IOCL providing the remaining Rs 7.05 crore.

Andhra On Right Track

Last month, the state government of Andhra Pradesh unveiled an ambitious plan to attract ₹10 lakh crore investment in the clean energy sector with an objective to achieve the net-zero carbon emissions by 2047. The new AP Integrated Clean Energy (ICE) Policy, introduced by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has a renewed focus on round-the-clock renewable energy projects including ethanol, compressed-biogas and green hydrogen.

The Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister of the state P. Narayana has also vowed that all the 13 districts of Andhra will have waste to energy plants to give fillip to optimal waste management and green energy production.

Biofuels firm Assago Industries has also announced its plan to set up a grain-based zero liquid discharge Ethanol producing plant at APIIC Industrial Park in Gummalladoddi (East Godavari) with a capacity of 200 KLPD.