Context:

The Swachh Bharat Mission has transformed one side of swachata, now focus on getting  latest technologies to transform Waste to Energy and Wealth in a major mission’.

More on news:

• The ‘special campaign 3.0’, third phase of the ‘Swachata’ drive, will be conducted from October 2 to 31 in all departments with a focus on cleanliness and reducing pendency in government departments.
• In 2019, The ‘Waste to Wealth’ Mission, aims to identify, test, and validate affordable decentralized technologies, adaptable to local requirements for waste management.

What is Waste to Wealth?:

• It seeks to convert wastes from environmental and economic liabilities to valuable resources that create livable jobs and provide community development opportunities.
• It includes take-back, recycling and final disposal at the end of their useful life, in a way promoting circular economy.
• Waste to Energy (WTE) is integral to waste to wealth and various technologies that convert non-recyclable waste into usable forms of energy  including heat, fuels and electricity.
• WTE can occur through a number of processes such as Incineration, Gasification, Pyrolysis, Anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. (Refer Image)

Other Major initiative

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has notified the National Bioenergy Programme in November, 2022 with budgetary outlay of Rs. 1715 Crore (2021-2026) to be implemented in two phases for setting up of Bioenergy plants by providing Central financial assistance.
• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has launched the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative in October, 2018 which assures offtake of BioCNG/Compressed Biogas (CBG) after purification for sale as automotive fuels.
• Under the GOBARDHAN scheme implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, a financial assistance up to Rs. 50.00 lakh per district is available for setting up of community biogas plants.
• The Ministry of Power has notified the SAMARTH Mission for promoting the blending of biomass in the existing coal powered thermal power plants.
• The Central Pollution Control Board has  notified guidelines to provide financial support for setting up of Biomass Pellet plants in various states.

Source: The Economic Times

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