Dairy farms in Uttar Pradesh will be relocated away from residential areas and encouraged to set up biogas plants on their own or in collaboration with entrepreneurs to produce CNG (known as bio-CNG) from bovine waste and sell it to consumers, according to people familiar with the situation.
According to them, the government is developing a new policy in this sector in accordance with the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) recent guidelines. These guidelines advocate for the relocation of all dairies away from residential areas in cities and villages, with an emphasis on environmental friendly disposal of bovine waste—dung and urine.
"In this regard, Chief Secretary DS Mishra held a meeting with the officials from the animal husbandry department and the pollution control board here on Friday and asked them to present their project reports in next meeting on March 18, after which the new government will chalk out a policy," a senior animal husbandry department official said.
According to the meeting's preliminary discussion, all dairy farms with more than 15 bovine animals would be relocated away from residential areas. The larger ones will be encouraged to set up biogas/compressed biogas production plants by themselves or in association with entrepreneurs or NGOs to produce CNG from bovine dung and sell the same to locals.
"Small dairy farms will be asked to put up mechanized units (to) manufacture dung wood, flower pots, vermicomposting etc.," added the official. He also stated that all dairy farms will be directed to reduce wastage of water.
Premises with less than 15 bovine animals will not be considered "dairy."
The disposal of dung and urinal wastewater is claimed to be a major environmental concern for dairy farms and gaushalas (cattle shelters). Water pollution and odor problems are caused by improper dung and wastewater processing and disposal. In July 2021, the NGT issued detailed guidelines for the disposal of bovine waste.
It stated, among other things, that local bodies/corporations/SPCBs (state pollution control boards) should guarantee that untreated waste is not disposed outside the premises.
The bovine population in UP has been put at around 5.20 crore.
“Biogas has calorific value and other properties similar to CNG. Hence, it can be utilized as green renewable fuel as replacement of CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial,” he added.
"Now, big corporates are building biogas plants to produce CNG from dung," the official stated.
