Since FY 24, Gujarat Has Operationalised More Than 14,000 Biogas Plants Across 88 Clusters Under the First Two Phases of the Programme

The expansion comes as the Union Cabinet has approved the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme – GOBARdhan with a total outlay of ₹23,731 crore. Gujarat is turning cattle dung into a rural energy opportunity, with the state expanding its GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) programme to set up 20,000 new individual biogas plants in FY27, stated an official release on Friday. The initiative, being rolled out through Gujarat’s strong dairy cooperative network with support from organisations including the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), Amul, Banas Dairy and Dudhsagar Dairy, aims to convert livestock waste into clean cooking fuel and organic manure while improving sanitation in villages.

Since FY 24, Gujarat has operationalised more than 14,000 biogas plants across 88 clusters under the first two phases of the programme. In the first phase, 7,423 individual plants were installed across 38 clusters with support from NDDB, Amul, Banas Dairy and Dudhsagar Dairy. In the second phase, fully funded by the Gujarat government, the state targeted 10,000 plants across 50 clusters.

The state is installing modern 2-cubic metre flexible biogas plants made from durable HDPE material. Each beneficiary receives a complete kit comprising a biodigester, geotextile sheet, gas pipeline, hydrogen sulphide filter, two-burner stove, pressure regulator, lighter and other accessories. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), beneficiaries receive ₹25,000 in financial assistance for installation of a biogas plant, while contributing the remaining ₹5,000. The government said the plants offer multiple benefits, including reduced dependence on LPG, better waste management and greater use of organic manure in farming.