Gobar-dhan

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Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 'gobar-dhan' Bio-CNG plant in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Details:

The Biogas plant was inaugurated under the vision of “waste to wealth”, and “circular economy” for maximizing resource recovery.
The plant has a capacity to treat 550 tonnes per day of utilizing wet organic waste.
The plant expected to produce around 17,000 kg per day of CNG, and 100 tonnes per day of organic compost.
The plant is based on zero landfill models, no waste materials would be generated.
Expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing green energy, organic compost and fertilizer.
Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) created a Special Purpose Vehicle to implement the project.
Indore Municipal Corporation to purchase a minimum 50% of CNG produced by the plant. Target to run 400 city buses on the CNG.
The remaining quantity of CNG will be sold in the open market.
Organic compost from the plant will be utilized for agricultural and horticultural purposes.

GOBAR-DHAN Initiative:

Under the Ministry of Jal shakti.
The Initiative Support Swachh Bharat Mission.
It will help in Increasing rural incomes.
The initiative has 2 Objectives
- To Make villages Clean and generate income and energy from Cattle and other organic waste.
- To Promote Cleanliness and sustainable Solid and liquid waste management in rural India.
The Residues from Biogas plant, used for vermicomposting and organic farming.
These plants will Supply Cooking gas at a Cost lower than the Conventional LPG gas Cylinder.

Biomass:

Biomass is renewable organic energy that comes from plants and animals. It is an important fuel for many, especially for cooking and heating in rural areas.
Biomass fuels are also used for transportation and electricity generation.
Biomass sources for energy include: Wood and wood processing wastes, Agricultural crops and waste materials, organic materials in municipal solid waste, Animal manure and human sewage.

Biogas potential of India:

Recent Livestock Census estimates India’s Cattle Population around 300 million, with total Production of dung approx 3 million tonnes per day.
Many Countries are using animal dung and other organic waste to generate energy. But India has still to utilize the full potential of bio waste.
Cattle dung, kitchen waste and agricultural waste Can be tapped to create biogas-based energy.
According to an International Labor Organization report; Effective use of Cattle dung Could generate 1.5 million jobs in India..

Challenges

Maintaining a regular Supply of Cattle dung and other organic waste to Plant operators.
Lack of trained manpower, lack of skilled workforce to manage the operation in a sustainable way.
Inadequate financial support to set up biogas plants, lack of supporting infrastructure like roads, transportation, etc.
Shortage of fodder production for the cattle affects the production of organic waste needed for the plant.
Farm Mechanization is replacing the cattle in agriculture. This led to ignorance of cattle by the cattle's master, and they found keeping cattle a burden.

Way forward:

Engage all Stakeholders,
Encourage Investments from Private Sector and local entrepreneurs,
Building capacity of Panchayats and village Communities as they have to play a key role in running the plant in a sustainable way.