DJB to discontinue biogas supply from January 25

As its gas supply infrastructure has suffered major leakages over the last 30 years,the Delhi Jal Board has decided to discontinue the supply of domestic biogas to its 4,000-odd consumers in South Delhi from January 25 next year.

As its gas supply infrastructure has suffered major leakages over the last 30 years,the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has decided to discontinue the supply of domestic biogas to its 4,000-odd consumers in South Delhi from January 25 next year. The water utility body is now considering alternative uses for efficient energy management,and talks are already on with a Sweden-based company for converting biogas into Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Domestic bio-gas was only a supplementary domestic fuel provided by the DJB to 4,000 consumers in South Delhi through the Okhla Sewage Treatment Plant. It was a very positive and energy efficient procedure,but failure of infrastructure is forcing us to stop the supply of gas to domestic consumers. Conveyance pipes have suffered leakages over the years,and there is a lot of risk involved in gas supply, DJB member (Water and Sewerage) R K Garg told Newsline.

While no decision has been taken yet,the water utility is now considering alternative ways to utilise the energy efficiently,which cannot be wasted or released into the atmosphere. There are certain options being considered. Conversion into CNG is one option,which has also invited interest from the Government of India. Talks are also on with a Swedish company. With major infrastructure changes being planned for the Okhla STP,there is another option of making power from the bio-gas produced, Garg said.

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The DJB had announced on Wednesday that supply of bio-gas in the command areas of Okhla Sewage Disposal Works will not be available with effect from January 25,2011. The consumers of bio-gas are advised to switch over to an alternative source of kitchen fuel. The security amount deposited against the bio-gas connection shall be adjusted against the prospective bills for water charges, the board has announced.

Biogas,used as domestic fuel,is produced during the process of sewage treatment,and till now only the Okhla Sewage Treatment Plant has produced and supplied the fuel. The sewage treated to produce this gas was received from areas like Timarpur,Kashmere Gate,Lajpat Nagar,Vinay Nagar and Chanakyapuri.

At present,the DJB supplies biogas to over 4,000 domestic consumers in South Delhi areas like Okhla,Maharani Bagh,Zakir Nagar,Sukhdev Vihar,New Friends Colony,Jamia Nagar,Lajpat Nagar,DJB staff quarters at Okhla STP,Okhla Water Works,Jal Vihar and Ring Road Pumping Station. Its commercial consumers include Holy Family Hospital,Don Bosco School,Jamia Millia and Delhi Cheshire.

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