Question : Setting up of Bio-Gas Plants

(a) whether some State Governments are facing difficulties in setting up of bio-gas plants due to shortage of funds;
(b) if so, whether some State Governments including Maharashtra have submitted proposals for providing funds for the purpose during the last three years;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Union Government thereon, State-wise;
(d) the details of the families benefited at rural and semi-urban areas under central sector scheme of bio-gas programme, State-wise;
(e) the number of bio-gas plants installed during the last ten years and working for more than 5 years, State/UT-wise; and
(f) whether regular safety audits have been carried out for these bio-gas plants, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL, NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY & MINES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): Some of the State Governments’ Nodal Departments, that are implementing the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) are facing some difficulties owing to delay in release of funds to them as first installment under the scheme during the current year 2016-17. The delay was caused for want of making necessary budgetary re-adjustments during the current year 2016-17 in the light of the extended scope of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and requirement of registration of the State Nodal Departments (SNDs) under the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
(b): The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) receives proposals from the States for allocation of annual targets under the NBMMP at the beginning of the year. Based on the previous capacity, performance and budget allocation, the annual targets are fixed and communicated to the States, which is followed by release of first installment of funds. Thus,
the details of the proposals received from the State Governments, including Maharashtra for providing funds for the purpose of setting up of biogas plants under the NBMMP during the last three years, 2013-14 to 2015-16 is given at Annexure-I.
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(c): The State-wise details of the proposals received in terms of the physical targets from the States and action taken in processing the same for target and funds allocations and release of funds by the Government and the present status in this regard is given at Annexure- I.
(d): Under the NBMMP, a total of about 49.10 lakh small size family type biogas plants have been installed since inception of the scheme and up to 31.03.2016. Thus, as many numbers of families have been benefited under the scheme. The State-wise details of the family type biogas plants installed during the last three years, 2013-14 to 2015-16 is given at Annexure-II.
(e): Under the NBMMP, a total of about 10.63 lakh family type biogas plants were installed during the last ten years (2006-07 to 2015-16). The reports of two independent evaluation studies carried out during the last ten years, on the sampling basis, revealed that about 94.45% and 95.80% of the surveyed plants were found to be in working condition. The State/UT-wise status of the working biogas plants as brought out by the two independent evaluation studies is given at Annexure – III. Functionality of the family type biogas plants in accordance with the monitoring and evaluation work carried out during the year 2015-16 by the Biogas Development and Training Centres (BDTCs) under NBMMP is given at Annexure-IV.
(f): Yes, Madam. The guidelines of the scheme in order to have regular cross checking, provides for monitoring and inspections by the State Nodal Departments(SND)/State Nodal Agencies (SNA) and Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Field inspections of installed biogas plants are conducted regularly by the BDTCs, under the NBMMP after selecting the beneficiaries randomly from the lists provided by the State Governments. In addition, the evaluation studies of the scheme implementation are also carried out, from time to time, through independent professional organizations.
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