The Hindu       18.07.2016 

TNERC to fix tariff for power from municipal solid waste

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has proposed to fix tariff for electricity generated through Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and has invited suggestions for the same on its website.

The commission decided to come up with a tariff proposal for MSW power, as there is a potential for such electricity in the coming years and also to provide some direction to MSW power producers who connect the electricity to the grid, an official said.

“At present, there is no specified tariff fixed for this. Those who are generating electricity through municipal solid waste and connecting it to the grid are complaining about not being paid by Tangedco. Once we fix the tariff, the issue will be resolved,” a TNERC official told The Hindu.

A case filed by a private company seeking fixation of tariff for 2.90 MW power generated from Municipal Solid Waste is being heard by the TNERC. The TNERC, in its paper, has proposed to fix Rs. 5.79 per kWh with accelerated depreciation (AD) benefit and Rs.5.34 per kWh without the AD. The control period has been proposed for a period of two years and the tariff will be applicable for 20 years, as per the consultative paper posted on the site.

About seven other States and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) have already proposed tariff for MSW. The tariff fixed thus would be applicable to all MSW-based power generating plants in the State commissioned on or after the date of issue of the order for sale of electricity to the distribution licensee, according to the paper.

The State Advisory Committee will deliberate on the comments received till August 11 before fixing the final tariff, the official said.

The commission has proposed to fix Rs. 5.79 per kWh with accelerated depreciation benefit

The Hindu       20.06.2016  

Erode Corporation yet to ensure effective waste segregation at source

QUITE CONVENIENT:Conservancy workers in two of the 12 wards in Lakhapuram panchayat are utilising a battery-operated tricycle.

The City Corporation is understandably yet to make inroads in segregation of waste at source.

The workers take a pretty lengthy duration to gather wastes from the doorsteps. In very many localities, the conservancy workers come for collecting wastes only once in three or four days.

The workers say they cannot be blamed since pushing the load of wastes drains their energy and consumes enormous time. Sanitary workers find the pushcarts provided by the Corporation rather cumbersome to handle. “In fact, we are left with very little time to segregate the garbage, and find ourselves constrained to throw the entire wastes into the bin,” a worker said, advocating battery fitment for the tricycles.

Incidentally, workers handling wastes with the two battery-operated three-wheelers donated in recent months by Olirum Erodu Foundation in Zones II and IV are able to enhance their productivity and efficiency. The three-wheelers are being utilised in Periyar Nagar and Suriyampalayam.

According to OEF sources, a battery-operated vehicle costs around Rs. 1.5 lakh. The one-time investment is worth making since the workers will be able to find time for segregating wastes at source, residential associations emphasise.

A good number of local bodies in the State have taken the lead in providing battery-operated three-wheelers for scientific waste disposal.

Earlier this month, District Collector S. Prabakar handed over a battery-operated three-wheeler to the Lakhapuram Panchayat adjoining the city limits.

The vehicle that would be operated by members of women self-help groups was jointly donated by OEF and Young Indians of CII Erode Zone.

They were educated about biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes before initiating them into door-to-door collection.