Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said 500 new ‘waste to wealth' plants under GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme will be established for promoting a circular economy.
These will include 200 compressed biogas (CBG) plants, including 75 plants in urban areas, and 300 community or cluster-based plants at a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore. Presenting the Union Budget for 2023-24, she also said the government will facilitate 1 crore farmers to adopt natural farming. The GOBARdhan scheme focuses on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste on farms into compost, biogas, and bio-CNG. In addition to keeping the village clean, it provides additional income for farmers and cattle herders.
The GOBARdhan scheme also aims to make farmers more self-reliant in converting ‘waste to energy.’ For every district, the Government of India provides technical assistance as well as financial support of up to 50 lakhs to achieve the safe disposal of cattle and organic waste.
In the long run, the scheme aims to help villages safely manage their cattle waste, agricultural waste, and organic waste. Develop decentralized systems to turn cattle and organic waste into wealth for communities. The effective disposal of waste in rural areas is to reduce vector-borne diseases and promote environmental sanitation.
Besides, the government will take up mangrove plantation along the coastline under the new MISHTI scheme, she added. Sitharaman also said the government would promote conservation values through a scheme to encourage optimal use of wetlands.
Further, a green credit programme will be notified to incentivise environmentally sustainable and responsible actions by companies, she said.
Gaurav Kedia, Chairman, Indian Biogas Association said the Budget prioritizes the adoption of green fuel, energy, and building practices to reduce carbon intensity and create new green job opportunities.