Assam State Cabinet nod to biogas sector boost

Context: Guwahati, Oct 27, following Central
government’s decision to hike rates of dearness allowance for its employees,
the State Cabinet on Sunday approved three per cent hike in dearness
allowance/dearness relief of the State government employees and pensioners. With
this, the DA for State government employees and pensioners will now be 53 per
cent with effect from July 2024. The Cabinet also accorded approval to sign a
memorandum of understanding between the Assam government and Reliance Bio-Energy
Limited, aimed at promoting the compressed biogas sector of the State.

Key
points

·       Overview: A network of integrated compressed
biogas infrastructure would soon be established in the State. The initiative
will ensure reduction of pollution created by fossil fuels without endangering
food security, besides providing significant employment and income for the
farmers by developing a bio-value chain ecosystem.

·       Compressed Biogas: CBG is a renewable fuel made from
organic waste materials like agricultural residue, animal dung, food waste, and
municipal solid waste.

Benefits of CBG Plants- Waste to Energy: Turns organic waste
into clean energy which helps in waste management. Impact of Environment:
Reduces carbon emissions for better air quality and climate action. Job Growth:
Creates local jobs for plant construction and operation. Eco-friendly: CBG is a
sustainable alternative to conventional fuels, helping to reduce environmental
pollution. Energy Independence: It decreases reliance on imported natural gas
and crude oil, supporting energy security.

Challenges- High Costs: Setting up plants needs
a lot of money, which can slow down growth. Technical Needs: Advanced
technology and knowledge are needed for plants to work well. Waste Collection
Problems: Collecting and transporting organic waste can be difficult,
especially in remote places. Private Sector Issues: Working with private
companies can be tricky in terms of coordination and management. Regulatory and
Policy Framework for CBG: Well-defined and supportive policies are crucial for
the growth of the Compressed Biogas (CBG) sector. Health Hazards: Unscientific
waste disposal can lead to diseases like dengue and malaria.

·       Government Initiative: Sustainable Alternative Towards
Affordable Transportation initiative: It was launched by The Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) in 2018. MoPNG associated with Public Sector
Undertaking (PSU) and Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) for launching SATAT.

Objective: The aim of this initiative was to
set up plants for compressed biogas and to make biogas accessible for use as
automotive fuel.

·       Other related initiatives: The Cabinet meeting also gave nod to
construction of 97 rural roads and 70 minor irrigation projects in the State. In
another decision, the State Cabinet approved amendments in Para 22 and Para 29
of the Assam Tea Plantations Provident Fund and Pension Fund Scheme, 1968.