Community Biogas Plants to be Set Up in Selected Villages Across State, Says Assam Minister

Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah announced on March 18 that community biogas plants at dairy farms, Goshalas, and other locations, as well as cluster and semi-community level biogas plants, will be installed in selected villages in districts with a high concentration of cattle dung and other bio-agro waste to encourage people to consider dung and other waste as a source of income.

At the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati, the Minister participated in an interactive session with Goshalas and Dugdha Utpadok Samabai Samiti on the implementation of the GOBARDHAN scheme under SBM-G.

During the conversation, Baruah underlined the importance of the GOBARDHAN scheme in terms of village cleansing through solid and liquid waste management, which results in greater rural income, employment, and reduced environmental effect.

"The initiative will be implemented based on demand and Goshala participation. "A total of 24 Goshalas and 'Dugdha Utpadak Samabai Samiti' delegates from 21 districts participated in this interactive session," he said.

Notably, the Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme is being implemented as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin-Phase 2 by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Jal Shakti ministry, with the primary goal of increasing farmer income by converting biodegradable waste into compressed biogas.

It also intends to improve village sanitation and generate wealth and energy by converting bovine dung and solid agricultural waste into biogas, compost, and bio-slurry, so boosting the livelihood of communities that accept the programme.