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waste daily through a Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant. What renders this model
particularly compelling is its self-sustaining nature: the city’s waste is collected
by vehicles fueled by the very CBG produced from that waste. This closed-loop
system demonstrates how waste can be transformed from a burden into a local
ized energy source, proving that a holistic approach can yield remarkable results
and contribute significantly to urban cleanliness and resource independence.
Abhishek describes this as a “sustainable model, and the results are in front of
the nation”. Indeed, Indore has maintained its status as the cleanest city for the
past six to seven years, a testament to the efficacy of this integrated approach.
Beyond urban waste-to-energy, Abhishek also presented a strikingly innova
tive, biologically driven solution to an industrial challenge: the phyto-capping
of fly ash ponds. Historically, thermal power plants, such as the bituminous
coal-fired facility near Koradi, Nagpur, accumulated vast quantities of fly ash,
a byproduct dumped into expansive ponds. This widespread practice creates
significant environmental hazards, including the dispersal of delicate particulate
matter as wind-blown litter. Working with Dr. Lal Singh, a scientist at CSIR-