On Swachhta Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a gaushala (cow shelter) equipped with a Bio-CNG plant in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and launched several development projects worth Rs 6.85 billion for the state.

This facility is India’s first modern, self-sustaining gaushala featuring a Bio-CNG plant, as stated in an official announcement. Located at Lal Tipara, the gaushala accommodates 10,000 cows, supported by the Gwalior Municipal Corporation and the saint community. Utilizing 100 tonnes of cow dung, the facility has the capacity to produce three tonnes of natural gas daily.

The Bio-CNG plant has been developed in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which will also oversee its operation and maintenance. Additionally, the plant is set to produce 20 tonnes of high-quality organic manure each day. The gaushala was established with an investment of Rs 320 million sourced from IOC's corporate social responsibility fund.

To facilitate future expansion, an additional one-hectare plot has been reserved for the construction of a modern cow shed for 2,000 cows, with Rs 20 million allocated from the local area development fund of the Member of Parliament.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for bringing his vision of "waste to wealth" to fruition and thanked the community of seers and devotees for caring for the cows. He indicated that his government would support similar initiatives across the state.

It is notable that the largest Bio-CNG plant in Asia, also inaugurated by PM Modi, is operational in Indore. Gwalior’s plant is projected to produce approximately 2 to 3 tonnes of Bio-CNG and 20 tonnes of organic manure daily, generating an estimated income of around Rs 70 million for the Gwalior Municipal Corporation.

This initiative aims to benefit the local community, particularly encouraging farmers in surrounding districts to adopt organic farming practices by providing access to affordable bio-manure. (ET)