INDORE: The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) received a Cobalt-60 unit on Tuesday, January 18, to aid in the conversion of dry sludge at the Kabitkhedi sewage treatment facility into bio fertiliser.
According to senior IMC officials, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) radiation source unit would smash the dry sludge before exposing it to a radiation dose using Cobalt-60 gamma irradiation. Toxic materials and microorganisms in the sludge will be killed during the procedure, making it safe to use. After that, the sludge can be treated with microorganisms to make bio fertiliser, which can be utilised in public gardens and sold on the open market.
IMC faced a dilemma disposing of the sludge generated at the 248 MLD sewage water treatment facility, which comprises a high microbiological load as well as harmful heavy metals and organic contaminants. “We are aiming at converting 20 tonnes of around 50 tonnes sludge generated on a daily basis at Kabitkhedi treatment plant into fertiliser,” said Rishabh Gupta, CEO, Indore Smart City Development Limited. He further mentioned the Memorandum of Understanding with BARC following which their experts would assist the civic body with technical and scientific support to set up this sludge treatment plant.