New Delhi, March 16 (NationPress) A total of 37 proposals have been sanctioned, providing financial support of Rs 248 crores, aimed at transforming rural bio-waste—such as animal excrement, kitchen scraps, and agricultural leftovers—into biogas, as revealed by the Jal Shakti Ministry during its update to the Rajya Sabha this Monday.

In a written statement, Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna indicated that the government has embraced a comprehensive “Whole-of-Government” strategy for advancing Compressed Biogas (CBG) initiatives under the GOBARdhan program, which incorporates collaboration among various Ministries and Departments.

The GOBARdhan initiative plays a crucial role in Solid and Waste Management (SWM), promoting cleanliness in rural areas by converting bio-waste—including animal waste, kitchen remnants, crop byproducts, and marketplace waste—into both biogas and bio-slurry.

According to Somanna, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), serving as the Nodal Ministry for the GOBARdhan initiative, is rolling out a program to aid CBG producers in acquiring Biomass Aggregation Machinery (BAM) with an overall budget of Rs 564.75 crore.

Additionally, the MoPNG is launching a second initiative, the Development of Pipeline Infrastructure (DPI), to streamline the offtake of CBG, with a projected financial commitment of Rs 994.5 crore for the fiscal years 2024–25 to 2028–29, as stated by Somanna.

Financial support amounting to Rs 56.31 crore has already been earmarked for this project, he noted.

The Minister of State emphasized that these initiatives not only bolster the rural economy but also create jobs, enhance farmers’ earnings, support the circular economy, and contribute to rural infrastructure growth.

As reported by the MoPNG, project proponents are required to document the status and production metrics of their respective projects on the GOBARdhan Portal (https://gobardhan.eil.co.in/).

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation also oversees the community or cluster-based biogas plants established under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM(G)], as communicated by States and Union Territories on the GOBARdhan portal, he explained.

In accordance with the operational guidelines of SBM(G) Phase II, financial aid of up to Rs 50 lakh per district is accessible for the establishment of community or cluster-based biogas facilities under the GOBARdhan scheme.

Under the SBM(G) Phase II, consolidated funds (Central Share) are allocated to States and Union Territories for all components based on their approved Annual Implementation Plans and the overall budget availability for the initiative.

In addition, the respective States and Union Territories are actively undertaking various strategies to promote awareness about this program under the Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) framework, as stated.

The MoPNG is also conducting workshops, seminars, and meetings nationwide to educate entrepreneurs and farmers on the technical, financial, and operational aspects of CBG, encouraging the establishment of additional CBG projects, according to the statement.