Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar chaired a comprehensive review meeting in Ujjain on Friday, June 19, 2026, assessing Madhya Pradesh's progress on energy projects, urban development, and preparations for the Simhastha Mahaparv 2028. The meeting covered key priorities under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, compressed bio-gas infrastructure, and a landmark zero-waste mandate for the upcoming pilgrimage festival.

Context

Khattar, who holds charge of both the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, convened the meeting to take stock of the state's urban and energy landscape. In his post, he stated — 'बैठक में ऊर्जा क्षेत्र की प्रमुख परियोजनाओं के साथ-साथ स्वच्छ भारत मिशन–शहरी 2.0 के अंतर्गत राज्य की प्रगति की विस्तृत समीक्षा की गई' — ('A detailed review was conducted of major energy sector projects as well as the state's progress under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0'). The meeting specifically examined Madhya Pradesh's work in legacy waste disposal, used-water management, bio-energy production, and sustainable urban development.

Policy Backdrop

Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2021, builds on the original 2014 national sanitation drive, placing emphasis on complete waste processing, wastewater treatment, and garbage-free cities. A significant highlight of the review was the Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plant at Indore — described as the country's first plant with a capacity of 550 tonnes per day (TPD) — and the positive outcomes being generated from it. The SATAT scheme, launched in 2018 to promote CBG production from agricultural and urban waste, provides the broader policy framework under which such plants operate. Indore, repeatedly ranked India's cleanest city, has been a model for large-scale municipal waste processing linked to energy generation.

Simhastha 2028 and Zero-Waste Goal

A major agenda item was the preparation for Simhastha Mahaparv 2028, the 12-yearly Kumbh festival held at Ujjain. The previous edition took place in 2016 and drew tens of millions of pilgrims, necessitating massive temporary urban infrastructure. This time, the Union and state governments are working toward organising Simhastha-2028 as a 'शून्य अपशिष्ट सिंहस्थ' — a 'Zero Waste Simhastha' — to ensure clean, well-organised, and improved facilities for devotees. Discussions at the meeting covered the arrangements and ongoing efforts required to meet this ambitious environmental standard at one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

Stakeholders and Impact

Urban local bodies across Madhya Pradesh are the primary implementation agencies for both SBM-Urban 2.0 targets and Simhastha infrastructure. Bio-energy developers and investors in the CBG sector stand to benefit from the state's demonstrated progress, which may attract further central support under existing schemes. Millions of pilgrims expected to attend Simhastha-2028 in Ujjain would directly experience the outcomes of the zero-waste planning now underway.

What's Next

State-level progress on CBG plant rollouts and waste-processing infrastructure will be closely tracked against national circular-economy targets. Any additional central guidelines or financial assistance packages for Simhastha-2028 zero-waste preparations are expected to follow from deliberations of this nature. The meeting signals that the Union government intends to keep Madhya Pradesh's urban and energy performance under active review as both national scheme deadlines and the 2028 festival draw closer.