Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 550-tonne capacity ‘GOBAR-Dhan Bio-CNG’ plant in Indore.

He said that such plants will be established in 75 big municipal bodies.

The PM recently launched the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, with the overall vision of creating Garbage Free Cities.

The Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 is being implemented under the overarching principles of waste to wealth and circular economy for maximising resource recovery — both of which are exemplified in the Indore Bio-CNG plant.

Key points on the Bio-CNG plant:

• The Bio-CNG plant has been set up based on the concept of waste-to-wealth innovation.

• It is said to be Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant.

• The plant, situated on the Devguradia trenching ground, has a capacity to treat 550 tonnes per day of segregated wet organic waste.

• It is expected to produce around 17,000 kg of compressed natural gas (CNG) and 100 tonnes of organic compost per day. 

• The plant is based on zero landfill models, whereby no rejects would be generated.

• Additionally, the project is expected to yield multiple environmental benefits, which include reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, providing green energy along with organic compost as fertilizer.

• Indore Clean Energy Pvt Ltd, a Special Purpose Vehicle created to implement the project, was set up by Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) and Indo Enviro Integrated Solutions Ltd. (IEISL) under a Public Private Partnership model, with 100 per cent capital investment of Rs 150 crore by IEISL. 

• Indore Municipal Corporation will purchase a minimum 50 per cent of CNG produced by the plant and in a first-of-its-kind initiative, run 400 city buses using it.

• The remaining quantity of CNG will be sold in the open market. The organic compost will help replace chemical fertilisers for agricultural and horticultural purposes.

GOBAR-Dhan

• GOBAR-Dhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources-Dhan) scheme is being pursued as a national programme priority under Swachh Bharat Mission. 

• The scheme is planned to positively impact village cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from cattle and organic waste. It aims at creating new rural livelihood opportunities and enhancing income for farmers and other rural people.

• It is expected to promote community awareness and ownership, and help villages manage cattle, agro residues and other biodegradable waste.

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