Thiruvananthapuram is taking a monumental leap towards sustainable waste management with the commencement of an innovative project at the Muttathara sewage treatment plant (STP). The Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation officially launched the construction of an Omni processor, marking the second phase of development for this crucial facility.
This state-of-the-art Omni processor is designed to revolutionize how faecal sludge is handled. It will efficiently treat the accumulated sludge from the plant, converting it into two valuable resources: clean water and electricity.
The inauguration of these significant construction activities was led by Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh, with Mayor Arya Rajendran presiding over the function.
A Game-Changing Project Funded by BMGF
During the event, Minister Rajesh highlighted a key aspect of this ambitious undertaking: neither the state government nor the local body will incur any expenses for this ₹36 crore project. The entire initiative is being realized through generous funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Interestingly, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had initially earmarked Hyderabad as the location for this project. However, thanks to the persistent and effective efforts of the Kerala State government and the Suchitwa Mission, this pioneering technology was successfully brought to Kerala.
The project wasn’t without its hurdles. A significant challenge involved securing clearance from the Airport Authority of India (AAI), as there were initial concerns about the plant’s proximity to flight paths. Fortunately, with decisive intervention from the State government, the necessary AAI clearance was obtained, ensuring the project could proceed as planned.
The cutting-edge Omni processor technology itself was developed by Janicki Bioenergy, a company based in Washington. A remarkable feature of this system is its self-sustaining nature: the electricity generated from processing the sludge can be directly utilized to power the sewage treatment plant, reducing operational costs and environmental footprint.
The existing Muttathara plant, established in 2013 at a cost of ₹80 crore, boasts a substantial capacity to treat 107 million litres of sewage daily (mld). Currently, approximately 40 of Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation’s 100 wards are directly connected to the STP via a piped network, with sewage from the remaining areas transported by tankers.