Temples to go green, recycle waste and tap solar power for needs

CHENNAI: In its attempt to go green and keep temples clean, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department has decided to tap renewable power at temples and engage NGOs working in the field of environment to keep them clean and tidy. The department on Friday held a conference of its officials as well as NGOs to further this cause.

A major task is managing solid and liquid waste generated by temples. “In temples, apart from the water used for abhishekams, there is waste water flowing from kitchen and toilets. Our plan is to manage this waste water properly,” said HR&CE commissioner and principal secretary T K Ramachandran.

Used flowers account for a major share of solid waste generated by temples. “We will compost this waste and convert it into manure. Temples can earn some extra revenue by selling the manure. We are generating biogas from solid waste in Mylapore Kapaleeswarar, Madurai Meenakshi and Srirangam temples, which is used in kitchens there,” said the commissioner.

On Friday, the NGOs demonstrated before HR&CE officials the ways to treat solid and liquid wastes. “We have also advised temple managements to opt for solar power for use in kitchens and other places,” Ramachandran said. The department is hoping to set up solar panels with donations from private enterprises. “We have a scheme under which professionals can adopt temples and use their experience to develop them. We hope engineers will adopt temples and help us tap solar power,” he said.

“Many temples have ISO certification. To comply with the ISO specifications, we are already reusing solid and liquid waste on such temple premises. It also saves some money for the shrines,” the commissioner said.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes