Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan (Biogas/ CBG Plants)
1. About GOBARdhan
Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) is an umbrella scheme based on a whole of Government approach. It covers the entire gamut of organic waste like cattle dung/ agri-residue/another organic waste conversion to biogas/ CBG. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation is the nodal coordinating agency for setting up biogas/ CBG plants in India.
Advantages of Biogas/ CBG
- An eco-friendly fuel that promotes a circular economy eco-system;
- The biogas can be used for cooking purposes replacing LPG use, thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption;
- The CBG can be used as transportation fuel, thereby reducing GHG emissions;
- The by-product of biogas production is a carbon-rich slurry that can be used as a soil conditioner, thereby promoting organic farming;
- Reduction in overall import of crude oil;
- Promote energy security;
- Generates employment opportunities and promotes entrepreneurship;
- Promotion of organic farming.
2. About Unified Registration Portal
To prioritize and promote the GOBARdhan initiative, Hon’ble Finance Minister made the following announcement as part of the budget speech for FY 23-24.
500 new ‘waste to wealth’ plants under GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme will be established for promoting circular economy. These will include 200 compressed biogas (CBG) plants, including 75 plants in urban areas, and 300 community or cluster-based plants at total investment of 10,000 crore. I will refer to this in Part B. In due course, a 5 per cent CBG mandate will be introduced for all organizations marketing natural and biogas. For the collection of bio-mass and distribution of bio-manure, appropriate fiscal support will be provided. To avoid cascading of taxes on blended compressed natural gas, I propose to exempt excise duty on GST-paid compressed biogas contained in it
Accordance to the above budget speech, a unified registration portal has been developed where any biogas/ CBG plants in India can register to avail benefits from other Ministries/ Departments. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation is the registering authority for any biogas/ CBG plants in India. The benefits/ supports that are available for biogas/ CBG plants from various Ministries/ Departments are mentioned below:
| Sl. No. | Ministry/ Department | Benefits/ support available |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti | Financial support of up to Rs. 50 lakh per district is available for setting up at least one model community biogas plants at the village/ block/district level to achieve safe management of cattle and biodegradable waste. For more details, click here https://sbm.gov.in/gbdw20/images/Framework/Gobardhan.pdf |
| 2. | Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas | Sustainable Alternative to Affordable Transport (SATAT) Initiative: It was launched in October 2018 to promote Compressed Biogas (CBG). Oil and Gas Marketing Companies (OGMCs) viz. IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, GAIL and IGL are inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) for setting up CBG plants by potential entrepreneurs and procuring the CBG at an assured price linked with the retail selling price of CNG. For more details, click here https://satat.co.in/satat/index.jsp MoPNG also aims to provide financial support to CBG plants for biomass collection. The details will be provided shortly. |
| 3. | Ministry of New Renewable Energy | Waste to Energy Programme: The programme’s objective is to support the setting up of Waste to Energy projects for the generation of Biogas/ BioCNG/ Power/ producer or syngas from urban, industrial and agricultural wastes/residues. The programme provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to project developers and service charges to implementing/inspection agencies regarding the successful commissioning of Waste to Energy plants for the generation of Biogas, Bio-CNG/enriched Biogas/Compressed Biogas, Power/ generation of producer or syngas. For more details, click here.: https://mnre.gov.in/waste-to-energy/schemes |
| 4. | The Department of Agriculture, & Farmers Welfare | The Department of Agriculture& Farmers Welfare has introduced a new Scheme under the National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility called Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). AIF scheme aims to provide medium – long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support. For more details, click here: https://agriinfra.dac.gov.in/Content/DocAttachment/FINALSchemeGuidelinesAIF.pdf |
| 5. | Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying | The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is a central sector scheme with package of Rs.15,000 crore. The project under the AHIDF is eligible for a loan up to 90% of the estimated/ actual project cost from the Scheduled Banks based on the submission of viable projects by eligible beneficiaries. All eligible entities under AHIDF will be provided interest subvention of 3%. Production of Bio-CNG & production of Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) was included as eligible activities under Animal Waste to Wealth Management (including Agri waste management) component of AHIDF on April 2022. For more details, click here: https://dahd.nic.in/schemes/programmes/ahidf |
| 6. | Department of Fertilizers | The department aims to provide market development assistance to selling FOM and LFOM. Further details will be provided shortly. https://dahd.nic.in/schemes/programmes/ahidf |
| 7. | Ministry of Rural Development | The Ministry of rural development has a significant role in the biogas/ CBG sector as they implement rural development programmes through various platforms. Self Help Group (SHG) is essential in maintaining and operating various infrastructure projects in rural areas. More than seven crores of SHG members are under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Engagement of SHGs in community-based biogas production will promote the conversion of organic waste to biogas in rural areas. The NRLM of MoRD is providing adequate training for SHGs for the same. Construction of biogas plant for Individual and unskilled wage component towards the construction of biogas plant for the community included under MGNREGA vide gazette notification dated 8th April 2022 |
| 8. | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | MoEF & CC developed a framework document for the quantification of GHG savings from GOBARdhan projects and translating them into carbon credits. Further details will be provided shortly. |