UTTAR PRADESH: Veterinary University to set up biogas project in Mathura

A major renewable energy and livestock development initiative is set to take shape in Mathura, as a veterinary university plans to establish a biogas or bio-CNG plant in collaboration with national and international agencies.

The biogas project will be implemented through a tripartite agreement between the State Livestock Department, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Veterinary University and Go Research Institute, and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

As per reports, final discussions for the agreement were held recently in Lucknow in the presence of senior officials, including Chief Minister’s advisor G.N. Singh, FAO representative Takayuki Hagiwara, Additional Chief Secretary (Livestock) Mukesh Meshram, and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Abhijit Mitra. The agreement is expected to be formally signed by May.

The proposed plant will be set up on approximately 1,400 acres of university land at Madhuri Kund in the Govardhan area. The project will integrate cattle conservation, agriculture, and clean energy production. Biogas and bio-CNG will be generated using cow dung and agricultural residues, while large-scale cultivation of green fodder such as sorghum, oats, berseem, and lucerne will also be undertaken. Silage production will ensure feed availability during lean periods.

To ensure a steady supply of raw material, major cowsheds in the district will be linked to the biogas project. The FAO will provide technical expertise and scientific support, while the government is expected to offer financial assistance. The bio-CNG produced at the facility will be commercially sold.

The stakeholders say that healthier livestock will directly contribute to improved human health, given the reliance on animal-based products such as milk and dairy.

A detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared following the signing of the agreement, outlining key aspects such as procurement rates for cow dung—offering direct economic benefits to farmers.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. Abhijit Mitra stated that most formalities for the agreement have been completed, and the project is expected to bring significant benefits to livestock farmers and the rural economy.