Gujarat to add 20,000 new household biogas plants

In its official statement, the Gujarat government has revealed plans to build 20,000 new individual household biogas plants in FY27 under the GOBARdhan programme, converting livestock waste into clean cooking fuel and organic manure while improving sanitation in rural areas.

The initiative is being implemented through the state’s extensive dairy cooperative network, with support from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), Amul, Banas Dairy and Dudhsagar Dairy.

Gujarat has already operationalised more than 14,000 biogas plants across 88 clusters since FY-24. The first phase saw 7,423 plants installed across 38 clusters with support from dairy organisations and NDDB, while the second phase targeted another 10,000 plants across 50 clusters with funding from the state government.

Under the programme, Gujarat is deploying 2-cubic-metre flexible biogas plants made from durable HDPE material. Each installation includes a biodigester, gas pipeline, hydrogen sulphide filter, pressure regulator and two-burner stove, among other equipment.

Beneficiaries receive Rs 25,000 in financial assistance under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and contribute Rs 5,000 towards the installation cost.

The state government said household biogas plants can reduce dependence on LPG, improve livestock-waste management and promote the use of bio-slurry as organic fertiliser. A 2-cubic-metre plant can save the equivalent of 8-10 LPG cylinders annually, manage around 18,250 kg of livestock waste and cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 834 kg a year, according to a UNICEF survey cited by the government.

The expansion comes alongside the Union Cabinet’s approval of the GOBARdhan scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 23,731 crore, aimed at accelerating the conversion of organic waste into bioenergy and bio-fertilisers across India.

Gujarat is already bullish on the bioenergy segment. Maruti Suzuki, NDDB and Banas Dairy are already developing cow-dung based bigas projects. About 10 bio-CNG plants connecting about 31 kilometres have been planned to power Anand villages to beat LPG shortages. Also, 665 household biogas plants have been installed for 1000 tribal families that live around Statue of Unity.