India Targets Linking 5,185 Toilets With Small Biogas Plants By 2023

As per the target mandate, the ministry gave different targets to states and Union Territories to boost the deployment of biogas energy in the country. It was on the lines of the National Biogas Programme 2002. In its order, the ministry also asked the states to take steps toward training personnel for these biogas plants. 

The breakup of the state-wise target list claimed that 5,185 toilets had to be linked with the biogas plant under the programme by the end of the current financial year. It also asked all states to ensure to set up around 30,795 small biogas plants with individual capacities in the range of one-meter-cube to 25-meter-cube. 

The ministry sanctioned the highest target of 5,000 biogas plants for Maharashtra. It was followed by Madhya Pradesh (3600), Karnataka (3100), Assam (1700), and Punjab (1550), among others. The order also mandated the states to train 848 personnel during the fiscal year. 

“All concerned designated Programme Implementing Agencies (PIAs) are requested to take immediate steps to ensure achievements of the allocated targets in full with quality construction, proper commissioning and functioning of biogas plants and follow all the terms and norms of the Scheme…” the order said. 

It also asked all the PIAs to chalk out a plan of implementation and review the progress of implementation of the same in the state and send the updated monthly progress status to the ministry. 

National Biogas Programme

The ministry earlier notified the National Bioenergy Programme on November 2, 2022. It continued the National Bioenergy Programme from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. The programme has been recommended for implementation in two Phases. 

The Phase-I of the programme was approved with a budget outlay of Rs. 858 crores, which included Rs. 100 crores for the Biogas Programme to support the setting up of small (1 m3 to 25 m3 biogas per day) and medium size Biogas plants, i.e. above 25 m3 to 2500 m3 biogas generation per day for corresponding power generation capacity range of 3 kW to 250 kW from biogas or raw biogas for thermal energy/cooling applications.

The ministry also gives Central Finance Assistance (CFA) for setting up the biogas plant based on capacity and location. It provides a CFA of up to Rs 17,000 for each cubic meter plant in hilly areas and Rs 9,800 for the same capacity in plain areas. 

The highest CFA of Rs 70,400 is reserved for the 20-25 cubic meter projects for hilly areas, whereas for the same segment, the CFA is Rs 52,800 for plain areas. It meanwhile also has an additional grant of a CFA of Rs 1600 for biogas plants if it is linked with a sanitary toilet. It is in addition to other incentives, like training programmes and others.