Dehradun, Yugvarta News Agency : To promote rural employment, increase farmers’ income, and encourage clean energy, Chief Secretary. Radha Raturi has directed coordinated efforts for the effective implementation of the Government of India’s Gobar-Dhan Scheme. She has assigned responsibilities to the departments of Drinking Water, Animal Husbandry, UREDA (Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency), Dairy, and Agriculture, instructing them to develop a comprehensive action plan.

The Chief Secretary emphasized the need for the Drinking Water Department to study and create an efficient operational plan for the scheme. She instructed the Dairy Development Department to ensure the timely and quality execution of biogas projects under its purview. Additionally, local farmers are to be engaged by purchasing cow dung and other organic materials like grains for biogas plants.

Key Projects and Initiatives Under the Scheme
1. Biogas Plant by Garhwal Dugdh Sangh (Srinagar):
A biogas plant with a production capacity of 400 kilograms per day is being established under a joint venture model by the Garhwal Dugdh Sangh. A private partner has already been selected for this venture. The private entity will manage the procurement of dung and the operation of the plant.
• Production Facilities:
• 400 kg/day biogas plant
• 1,000 kg/day bio-paint unit
• 3,000 kg/day organic fertilizer unit
• Raw Material Requirements:
• 4,000 kg dung per day
• 3,000 kg biomass per day
• Source: Approximately 29 milk committees and 2 cow shelters within a 25 km radius of Srinagar, covering about 150 members and 400 animals, will supply dung. Farmers will be paid ₹2 per kg for delivering dung to the plant and ₹1 per kg at village aggregation points.
• Output Utilization:
• Biogas for milk processing and bakery products
• Organic fertilizer (approx. 3 metric tons)
• Bio-paint as required
2. Bio-CNG Plant at Rudrapur:
A bio-CNG plant with a production capacity of 1,000 kg/day is being set up at the Aanchal Cattle Feed Factory in Rudrapur on a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model. After the designated operational period, the plant will be transferred to the Uttarakhand Cooperative Dairy Federation (UCDF).
• Land Utilization:
• Out of the 4.85 hectares allotted to the Dairy Development Department, 1.6 hectares of unused land will be used for the project.
• Production Facilities:
• 1,000 kg/day bio-CNG plant
• 5,000 kg/day bio-paint unit
• 30,000 kg/day organic fertilizer (PROM) unit
• Raw Material Requirements:
• 25,000 kg dung/day
• 15,000 kg biomass/day
• Source: Dung will be procured from 3,225 animals within a 30 km radius of Rudrapur, with payments to farmers at the same rates as the Srinagar project.

Individual and Community Biogas Plants

The scheme also includes personal and community-based biogas plants:
1. Individual Plants:
• Capacity: 2 cubic meters
• Daily Input: 40–50 kg of dung from 4–5 animals
• Cost: ₹50,000 per plant (with ₹17,000 as a subsidy from NDDB, the remaining from CSR funds, state assistance, and beneficiaries).
• Usage: Replacement for household LPG.
2. Community Plants:
• Capacities: 25 cubic meters (for 10–15 families) and 40–50 cubic meters (for 20–25 families)
• Daily Input:
• 25 cubic meters: 600 kg dung from 60 animals
• 40–50 cubic meters: 1,200 kg dung from 120 animals
• Cost:
• 25 cubic meters: ₹3.5 lakh (₹70,400 subsidy)
• 40–50 cubic meters: ₹7 lakh (₹2 lakh subsidy)

Both plant types will use the gas for cooking as an alternative to LPG, and the remaining funds will come from CSR initiatives, state assistance, and beneficiaries.

Future Developments
• Public and cluster-based biogas plants are being planned to ensure wider adoption.
• Raw material like biomass will supplement dung where needed.

Chief Secretary Raturi emphasized that all efforts must be coordinated, with no delays or excuses. She directed departments to ensure the availability of land and other resources for seamless execution.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Dr. B.V.R.C. Purushottam and officials from the Drinking Water, Animal Husbandry, Dairy, UREDA, and Agriculture Departments.