Building forward on the priorities of the union budget, the FM proposed 500 new ‘waste to wealth’ plants under GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme for promoting a circular economy. The 500 plants will comprise 200 compressed biogas (CBG) plants, including 75 plants in urban areas, and 300 community or cluster-based plants at a total investment of ₹10,000 crore.
She said, in due course, a 5% CBG mandate will be introduced for all organizations marketing natural and biogas and for the collection of bio-mass and distribution of bio-manure, appropriate fiscal support will be provided.
To avoid cascading of taxes on blended compressed natural gas, exemption of excise duty on GST-paid CBG contained in it, has also been proposed.
The GOBARdhan Scheme aims to make farmers self-reliant while converting cattle dung and solid waste into compost and biogas. This scheme is a part of Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen-Phase II program.