Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the “Gobar-Dhan (Bio-CNG) Plant” in Indore today through video conferencing.
The Prime Minister started his address by paying tributes to Rani Ahilyabai and recalling her link with the city of Indore. He said that mention of Indore reminds of Devi Ahiliyabai Holker and her sense of service. In the course of time, Indore changed for the better but never lost the inspiration of Devi Ahiliyabai and today Indore also reminds of swachhta and civic duty, the PM said. Modi also mentioned the beautiful statue of Devi Ahiliyabai at Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of Gobar Dhan and said wet urban household waste and waste from cattle and farm is Gobar Dhan. He said that Gobardhan from waste, clean fuel from Gobar Dhan, energy from clean fuel is a life-affirming chain. The Prime Minister informed that in the coming two years, Gober Dhan Bio CNG plants will be established in 75 big Municipal bodies. “This campaign will go a long way in making Indian cities clean, pollution-free, and in the direction of clean energy”, he said.
PM Modi further said that not only in cities, Gobar Dhan plants are being set up in villages also, getting extra income for the farmers. This will help in dealing with the problem of stray and unsupported cattle along with meeting India’s climate commitments, he said.
The PM said that during the last seven years the government has tried to provide permanent solutions instead of the quick-fix temporary solutions to the problems. He said that in the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the government is working to remove lakhs of tonnes of garbage that is occupying a thousand acres of land and causing air and water pollution leading to many diseases.
The Swachh Bharat campaign also led to the enhanced dignity of women and the beautification of the cities and villages. Now the focus is on disposal of wet waste, he said. The government is trying to convert these mountains of garbage into green zones in the next 2-to 3 years. He also expressed happiness that the garbage disposal capacity of the country has increased by 4 times since 2014.
More than 1600 bodies are getting material recovery facilities to get rid of single-use plastic.
The Prime Minister also underlined the link between cleanliness and tourism and said that cleanliness leads to tourism and gives rise to a new economy. He cited interest in Indore’s success as a clean city as an example of this connection. He added “It is government’s effort to make as many of Indian cities water plus. This is being stressed in the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission.”
The Prime Minister mentioned an increase in ethanol blending in petrol which has risen from 1 percent to around 8 percent in the last 7-8 years. The supply of ethanol increased significantly during this period from 40 crore litres to 300 crore litres, helping sugar mills and farmers.
The Prime Minister also talked about a significant decision in the Budget. It has been decided that coal-based electricity plants will also use parali or stubble. “This will help alleviate farmers’ troubles and will also provide extra income for farmers from agri-waste”, he said.