Rajasthan govt to set up bio gas plants linked with cow shelters: minister

The Vasundhara Raje government will set up biogas plants linked with cow shelters across Rajasthan, the state's cooperative and 'gaupalan' minister Ajay Singh Kilak said today.

The announcement comes at a time when the state government has been drawing flak from 'sadhus' and cow rearers who have accused it of not fulfilling the promises made in the ruling BJP's 2013 election manifesto on cow protection.

Kilak said the state government will initially select 25cow sheltersin the firstphase and provide financial assistance of upto Rs 10 crore to them.

Biogas plants with a capacity of over 100 cubic meters set up in cowsheds will produce 5 to 10 metric tonnes of bio-manure everyday, the minister said.

Rajasthan will be the only state in the country to set up biogas plants in registered cow shelters running in 25 bighas of land. In the first phase, 25 cow shelters will be selected and Rs 10 crore fund will be provided, Kilak said.

He said each selected cow shelter will be provided 50 per cent of the cost incurred in setting up of the biogas plant or a grant of upto Rs 40 lakh.

Yesterday, 'sadhus' and cow rearers had protested against the state government here accusing it of neglecting cows and falling back on its 2013 election manifesto promise to arrange food and shelter for bovines.

The protestors had threatened to handover 2,500 cow shelters to the state government if their demands were not met in 15 days.

Kilak said the 25 bio gas plants will generate 1 lakh metric tonnes of bio-manure, which will benefit farmers. He said the step was taken to make cow shelters self-sustaining.

The move will help in developing permanent assets in the cow shelters, increasing income sources, providing shelter to bovines and promoting non-conventional sources of energy, he said.