Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Launches Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan to Revolutionize Biogas/CBG Sector

Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, has launched the Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan, an initiative by the Government of India. This portal will serve as a centralized repository for assessing investment and participation in the Biogas/CBG (Compressed Biogas) sector at a pan India level. Its primary objective is to streamline the process of setting up CBG/Biogas plants in the country.

The Unified Registration Portal allows any government, cooperative, or private entity operating or intending to set up a Biogas/CBG/Bio-CNG plant in India to obtain a registration number by enrolling in the portal. This registration number will enable them to avail a multitude of benefits and support from the Ministries and Departments of the Government of India. The Union Government has advised all states to prioritize the registration of their CBG/Biogas plant operators on the portal to take advantage of existing and upcoming support.

The GOBARdhan initiative, which stands for Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan, is a crucial umbrella initiative of the Government of India. It adopts a whole-of-government approach and aims to convert waste into wealth, thereby promoting a circular economy. The government intends to build a robust ecosystem for setting up Biogas/Compressed Biogas (CBG)/Bio-Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) plants to drive sustainable economic growth and foster a circular economy.

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, has developed the Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan, accessible at https://gobardhan.co.in. The virtual launch event was attended by Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries responsible for rural sanitation from all states and union territories, as well as representatives from various central ministries and departments.

During the launch event, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized that the Unified Registration Portal of GOBARdhan exemplifies cooperative federalism. He highlighted the collective effort of stakeholder central ministries and line departments from both the central and state governments in the development and deployment of the portal. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in waste-to-wealth generation through the GOBARdhan initiative, with over 650 GOBARdhan plants and the newly launched portal.

Minister Shekhawat underscored that the portal would not only ensure ease of doing business but also attract greater investment from private players through aggregated data from all ministries and departments across the central and state governments. He urged all private operators and government stakeholders to register on the Unified Registration Portal at the earliest to avail the benefits and support offered by GOBARdhan-related schemes and programs.

Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Vini Mahajan, stated that the portal was the result of an extensive consultative process involving all stakeholder ministries. She mentioned that the portal had undergone a dry run with all states, ministries, and line departments to address any technical issues. The CBG Producers Association also tested and explored the portal's functionality. Ms. Mahajan emphasized that the portal provides information on both existing and proposed GOBARdhan projects and serves as a valuable tool for investors and entrepreneurs in the sector.

Jitendra Srivastava, Joint Secretary and Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and GOBARdhan, reported that over 650 GOBARdhan plants had been registered to date by various stakeholders. He added that the portal's transparency would make data available for research and related purposes as it is available in the public domain.

The GOBARdhan initiative aims to generate wealth and energy by converting cattle dung, agricultural residue, and other organic waste into Biogas, CBG, and bio-fertilizers. It encompasses schemes and programs under various ministries and departments, including the Waste to Energy Scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the SATAT scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, SBM(G) Phase II of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the Agri Infrastructure Fund of the Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairy.

The initiative is implemented in partnership with state governments and the private sector, including entrepreneurs and societies.

The Union Government is committed to building a robust policy ecosystem for CBG/Biogas in India. Several initiatives are being planned to strengthen the CBG/Biogas supply chain, focusing on biomass aggregation, grid pipeline connectivity, organic farming practices, research and development support, and continuous engagement with stakeholders.