GOBARdhan Scheme “Waste to Wealth” Initiative

Context: 

536 Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plants and 1193 Biogas Plants have been registered on the Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan scheme since the launch of the initiative.

Year End Review of GOBARdhan Scheme

• Waste to Wealth” Plants: The budget 2023 announced the establishment of 500 new “waste to wealth” plants with an investment of Rs. 10,000 Crore. 
  • During FY 2023-24, 198 plants were set up which includes 12 Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants and 186 biogas plants.
• 556 more plants are under construction, which includes 129 CBG plants and 427 biogas plants.

About GOBARdhan Scheme (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan):

• Aim: To convert biodegradable/ organic waste into valuable resources such as biogas, compressed biogas (CBG), and organic manure.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti

Initiatives taken to promote the implementation of GOBARdhan Scheme:

• Inclusion of CBG for Trading of Carbon Credits: CBG is included in the list of activities for trading of carbon credits under bilateral/ cooperative approaches.
  • This will help CBG plant owners to generate extra revenue through trading of carbon credits.
• Excise Duty Exemption: Central excise duty exemption has been provided to CNG blended with CBG to prevent double taxation.
• Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme: It incentivizes sale and marketing of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) /Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM) (organic manure produced from GOBARdhan plants)  for promoting organic farming
• Mandatory CBG Blending: National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) has approved phase wise introduction of mandatory 5 % CBG blending in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) (Transport) & PNG (Domestic) segments to strengthen production and consumption of CBG
• Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan scheme: It has been developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation to streamline the registration of CBG and biogas plants nationwide.

News Source: PIB

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