GOBARdhan Scheme | 11 Jan 2025

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has highlighted lack of transparency in data of operational Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant on GOBARdhan portal.

Compressed Biogas (CBG): CBG is a renewable energy source produced from organic waste, including agricultural residues, cattle dung, municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge.
- It helps in replacing fossil fuels, managing agricultural and animal waste, and reducing open burning.
GOBARdhan Scheme: The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) initiative focuses on converting waste into wealth to promote a circular economy.
- It aims to establish a strong ecosystem for Biogas/Compressed Biogas (CBG)/Bio-CNG plants to foster sustainable growth.
- The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, serves as the nodal department.
Key Issues:
- Slow Adoption: Only 115 CBG plants are functional as of December 2024, against the target of 5,000 by 2030.
- Information Gaps: The GOBARdhan portal lacks details on feedstocks used by specific CBG plants.
- Operational Transparency: The portal lacks a section for operational plants with updated information, making it difficult for policymakers to address entrepreneurs' challenges.