To make the city's transportation environment-friendly, promote cleanliness and generate revenue, the Gwalior Municipal Corporation (GMC) will set up a plant to produce bio Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and nutrient-rich fertilizer from cow dung.
Talking to The Pioneer, Commissioner of GMC Kishore Kanyal said that a plant producing bio CNG and biofertilizer from cow dung would soon be set up at the Lal Tipara Gaushala of the city. The plant would produce around 100 tone bio CNG along with the bio-fertilizer required for the GMC's vehicles daily, Kanyal also said.
The Lal Tipara cow shed, being run by the GMC, is the largest gaushala of the state where around 8000 cattle are lived and around 56-ton dung is produced every day.
"Keeping in mind sustainable development goals (SDGs) framed by the United Nations, we have made this project to conserve energy, protect the environment and promote the Swachchhta mission", the GMC Commissioner, Kanyal also said.
In the first phase, the corporation would use the bio CNG for its own vehicles. It would save a huge amount which is spent on fuel for vehicles, Kanyal added. Around 9000 litres of fuel are consumed daily.
Ahuge quantity of dung is also collected by the corporation from the city's dairies. "In the second phase, we will upgrade the plant and produce more CNG and fertilizer which will be sold in the open marketto generate revenues", he also added.
He also said that the step would not only play a crucial role to protect the city's environment but also bring forward towards making a clean town under the cleanliness drive.
The project, costing Rs 32 crore, is being funded by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited under the CSR (corporate social responsibility) policy of the Companies Act 2013.
The Corporation will first introduce 46 CNG-operated vehicles replacing diesel carriages, which are engaged in door-to-door garbage collection.
The process for calling tenders to set up the plant and purchase the CNG vehicles has been started. The production of the CNG and fertilizer will be begun in September next year, the Commissioner further added.