GUJARAT: 665 biogas units installed for tribals around Statue of Unity

Nearly 1,000 tribal families living in villages around the Statue of Unity in Gujarat are being supplied with biogas plants under a government initiative aimed at promoting clean and self-reliant household energy. Of these, 665 biogas units have already been installed as the project moves into its final phase.

The biogas initiative was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the National Unity Day Parade at Ekta Nagar last year. It targets 1,000 households across 89 villages under 38 gram panchayats in Garudeshwar taluka of Narmada district. The project is being overseen by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA).

Designed to reduce dependence on LPG cylinders and firewood, the scheme enables families to use organic waste to generate clean cooking fuel. The government is bearing the full cost of biogas plant installation, while beneficiaries are contributing labour for pit construction.

The shift to biogas has begun transforming daily life in the region. Households now have access to a steady supply of clean fuel, easing concerns over LPG availability. In addition, the slurry produced by the plants is being used as organic manure, reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and contributing to improved crop yields.

The as per reports, the initiative biogas has also reduced the burden on women, who previously spent significant time collecting firewood and cooking using traditional methods.

With more than 665 biogas plants already operational, the remaining installations are expected to be completed soon as the rollout continues across the identified villages.

Anand Trajectory

In a similar move, villages in Gujarat’s Anand district are embracing a cleaner and more economical energy solution through a large-scale bio-CNG cluster project. The announcement has come in response to restrictions on commercial LPG cylinders. Spanning nearly 100 villages, the initiative will establish 10 bio-CNG plants aimed at reducing reliance on imported LPG while ensuring a steady and cost-effective fuel supply.