In a major step towards sustainable waste management and the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants for the scientific processing of cow dung in the national capital.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, who described the initiative as a model for making major cities across the country cleaner while creating additional income opportunities for livestock farmers.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said the project aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of restoring the Yamuna River by preventing waste from entering its waters. He stressed that the dream of a clean Yamuna cannot be achieved unless the discharge of sewage, industrial waste and other pollutants into the river is completely stopped.
He said the government is putting arrangements in place to ensure that no cow dung reaches the Yamuna in the future. According to Shah, the proper management of waste generated by nearly 1.25 lakh cattle in Delhi is essential for achieving this objective.
The Union Home Minister also highlighted the government’s broader efforts to improve water quality in the capital. He said work has already commenced on around 80 treatment plants to process sewage and industrial wastewater. Expressing confidence in the ongoing initiatives, Shah stated that the government aims to ensure that not a single litre of untreated wastewater enters the Yamuna by December 2028.
Under the agreement, cow dung collected across Delhi will be scientifically processed at the Nangli, Ghoga-Goyla and Ghazipur waste disposal facilities, where Compressed Bio-Gas will be produced. Besides generating clean energy, the plants are expected to produce organic manure, supporting sustainable agriculture and reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers.
Shah said the project would deliver multiple benefits by improving urban sanitation, promoting renewable energy production and strengthening organic farming. He added that the initiative would also create a new source of income for livestock owners through a provision to pay them ₹1 per kilogram of cow dung supplied for processing.
Calling the MoU a significant milestone, Shah said the Delhi model could be replicated in metropolitan cities across India before being extended to rural areas, where scientific processing of cattle waste could further enhance the livelihoods of millions of livestock farmers.
The government believes that the initiative will not only contribute to cleaner cities and cleaner rivers but also advance the country’s circular economy by converting cattle waste into valuable energy and organic agricultural inputs.
