Convert Civic Waste Into Energy:India's President Kalam

(June 7, 2006) “Increased urbanisation has resulted in accumulation of municipal solid waste, which is a threat to the environment, as well as a rich source of energy,”India’s resident Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. said in his June 6 address at the World Environment Day celebrations in Bangalore, the capital of India’s southern State of Karanataka. He added that with the use of technology, this waste could be converted in gas for generating electricity. The celebrations were jointly organised by the Forest Department and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board – KSPBC. According to Dr. Kalam there are three areas which need to be worked on - using municipal waste for power generation, fly-ash clearing and synergy mission for environmental upgradation.“ The use of coal for power generation results in fly ash production, which has reached 100 million tonnes per year. Moreover, it can be used as manure and is non-toxic,” Dr. Kalam observed. Fly ash utilisation can generate three lakh jobs and Rs. 4, 000 crores every year, he added. He suggested that KSPBC should consider installing mini power plants, which run on municipal waste. He also recommended the use of fly ash as green building material and manure. Awards were given at this ceremony.Five institutions and seven dignitaries were recognised for their contribution to environmental protection, and students were also given away prizes for various competitions that were organised.