The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in western India is hoping to claim ‘carbon credit’ points by treating sewage water and generating electricity through the methane produced in the process. That means income for the local body.
Any project in developing countries that finds ways of cutting down on emission of the global warming gases like carbon dioxide can fetch it money from the developed countries, as per the Kyoto protocol on climate change.The multi-crore sewage treatment plants (STPs) are to be funded by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, a federal initiative.
Untreated sewage increases the carbon content in the water bodies into which it is released. Thus when the sewage is cleansed of carbon, the water bodies are saved from carbon pollution.
Also while treating sewage, methane is emitted and that is another global warming gas.
Now the Pune Corporation hopes to prevent that methane from being released into the atmosphere. Instead it would be used to generate, and that is another claim for carbon credit.
The PMC has received funds of Rs 150 crore to set up four STPs in the first phase and another Rs 232 crore for five STPs in the second phase. The two power generation plants planned will generate 10 megawatt electricity each, the Times of India reports.
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