GOBAR-DHAN scheme

Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) is an umbrella initiative of Government of India based on the whole of Government approach. It covers the entire gamut of schemes/programmes/policies promoting the conversion of organic waste like cattle dung/ agri-residue etc. to biogas/ CBG/ Bio CNG. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti is the coordinating department for GOBARdhan.

Background

GOBARDHAN was launched by the Government of India in April 2018 as a part of the Solid and Liquid Waste Management component under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) to positively impact village cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from cattle and organic waste. As rural India has already attained the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, the importance of GOBARDHAN has increased as it supports the villages in achieving ODF-plus status, which is an important objective of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II.

Ministries involved

GOBARDHAN: Waste to Wealth programme has been designed to provide a common platform for schemes of different Ministries/Departments such as the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE); Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG); Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD); Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DACFW); Department of Rural Development; and Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).

Objectives

• To support villages effectively manage their cattle waste, agricultural waste/residue and all other organic waste
• To support communities to convert their organic waste (especially cattle dung) to wealth through generation of manure and energy out of waste
• To promote environmental sanitation and curb vector-borne diseases through effective disposal of waste in rural areas
• To create livelihood opportunities in rural areas and enhance the income of farmers and other rural people by supporting them to convert their waste to wealth
• To promote rural entrepreneurship by involving entrepreneurs, SHGs and Youth Groups in the setting up and operation and management of biogas plants

Benefits of the Scheme

• Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin 2.0 : 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
• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) : SATAT scheme on Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) encourages entrepreneurs to set up CBG plants, produce & supply CBG to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for sale as automotive & industrial fuels. For more details, click here.
• Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban 2.0 : Under the Scheme of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, additional Central Assistance is provided to States and Union Territories for solid waste management by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, as per scheme guidelines. Additional Central Assistance of 25% /33%/50% (based on ULB population) for MSW based CBG plants (subject to max. cost of Rs.18 crore per 100 TPD). For more details, click here.
• 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.
• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Fund : 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.
• Agri-Infra Fund : 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.
• Crop Residue Management : Supports the efforts of the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and NCT of Delhi in addressing the problems of crop residue burning through the interventions. For more details, click here.
• Market Development Assistance : The main objective of Department of Fertilizers is to ensure adequate and timely availability of fertilizers at affordable prices for maximizing agricultural production in the country. The main functions of the Department include planning, promotion and development of the fertilizers industry, planning and monitoring of production, import and distribution of fertilizers and management of financial assistance by way of subsidy / concession for indigenous and imported fertilizers. For more details, click here.

About Unified Registration Portal

Anyone who operates or intending to setup a biogas/ CBG/ Bio CNG plant in India can obtain a registration number by registering in the unified regitration portal. The registration number is required to avail benefits/ support from other Ministries/ Departments. 

Source : Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti