Why in news?
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy released the guidelines for the New National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme in May 2018.
What is Natural Biogas and Manure management Programme?
The Government of India had launched the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme for reducing environmental degradation and prevents the emissions of GreenHouse Gases (GHGs) such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Methane into the atmosphere.
This is a Central Sector Scheme, which provides for setting up of family type biogas plants mainly for rural and semi-urban households. A family type biogas plant generates biogas from organic substances such as cattle-dung, and other biodegradable materials such as biomass from farms, gardens, and kitchens.
Why the need for such programmes?
The entire world is facing the problem arises by the environmental changes. So the world is looking for some alternative sources which can be economical as well as environment friendly.
What are the objectives of the programme?
Objectives of the scheme include:
What are the physical targets set under the programme?
The target for 2017-18 was to set up 65,180 biogas plants. For 2018-19, this target was increased to one lakh plants.
What is Biogas?
Biogas is a mixture of different gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. It can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste or food waste.
What are the benefits of biogas technology?
1. It provides clean gaseous fuel for cooking and lighting.
2. Digested slurry from biogas plants is used as enriched bio-manure to supplement the use of chemical fertilizers.
3. It improves sanitation in villages and semi -urban areas by linking sanitary toilets with biogas plants.
What is the mode of financial assistance?
The guidelines also provide details of central assistance that will be provided depending upon the state (in which the plant is located), and the size of the plant. This assistance will be directly disbursed to the beneficiary accounts after the plants are set up.
What is the present status of its implementation?
The scheme of this programme will be implemented through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in all the States and UTs in India.
About 47.5 Lakh biogas plants have already been installed in the country upto 31st March, 2014. During the year 2014-15, a target of setting up 1,10,000 biogas plants has been set. The target for 2017-18 was to set up 65,180 biogas plants. For 2018-19, this target was increased to one lakh plants.
The Biogas plant is the best option for households having feed material, to become self- dependent for cooking gas and highly organic enriched bio-manure. It provides the solution to protect the households from the problems of indoor air pollution and while saving on cost of refilling of LPG cylinders.