BPCL to set up waste treatment plant in Brahmapuram

The Kerala government and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) have agreed, in principle, to set up a plant in Kochi to process waste and produce compressed biogas. The decision was made in a meeting attended by government representatives, including State Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh, Industries Minister P Rajeev, and State Chief Secretary VP Joy, and BPCL representatives. The plant will be constructed by BPCL on land provided by the government, and the company will be responsible for its maintenance. The plant is expected to be operational within a year and will be located in Brahmapuram, where the municipal solid waste of Kochi and nearby municipalities will be treated. The natural gas produced through waste treatment will be used for BPCL’s operations, and the organic manure produced will be marketed. Discussions related to the project will continue in the coming days. The decision is seen as a crucial step in the government’s efforts to find a solution to Kochi’s garbage problem. The move comes after a massive fire broke out at the waste treatment plant in Brahmapuram on March 2, causing air quality in Kochi and neighboring areas to worsen due to the dense smoke billowing from the garbage dump.