Gandhinagar: Showcasing a strong model of sustainable innovation under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, a Gujarat-based educational institution has successfully turned waste into a reliable source of clean energy, achieving complete self-reliance in cooking fuel.
Situated near Adalaj in Gandhinagar, the Shrimati Manekba Vinay Vihar Educational Campus, managed by the Vasumati Charitable Trust, has replaced conventional LPG usage with a biogas-based cooking system.
The campus prepares meals for over 500 individuals every day, including nearly 250 hostel students and the families of 15 staff members, with food served twice daily.
To support this, the institution operates two biogas plants with a combined daily capacity of 90 cubic meters. These plants process cow dung from 222 cows in the campus gaushala, along with kitchen waste and agricultural residues collected from nearby areas.
The resulting biogas fully meets the institution’s cooking needs, eliminating the use of LPG cylinders.
Officials at the campus noted that under the Gujarat government’s institutional biogas scheme, the facility has become fully self-sufficient in cooking gas.
They added that the slurry generated during the process is used as organic fertilizer, promoting chemical-free farming. Without this system, the campus would require around 30 LPG cylinders each month.
Biogas derived from organic waste is widely regarded as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly fuel. Additionally, the nutrient-rich slurry by-product enhances soil fertility, reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers, and lowers overall agricultural costs—creating a sustainable cycle of energy and farming.
The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) supports such initiatives by offering financial assistance for biogas plants with capacities ranging from 25 to 85 cubic meters. Non-profit organizations can avail subsidies of up to 75%, making the technology accessible and affordable.
In the past five years, approximately 193 institutional biogas plants have been installed across Gujarat, reflecting the state’s continued push toward renewable energy and sustainable development.
These efforts also contribute to reducing pollution and ensuring effective disposal of organic waste from educational institutions and gaushalas.
Aligned with the goals of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, such initiatives underline the role of institutions in advancing sustainability. By adopting circular waste management practices, they are not only minimizing environmental impact but also transforming waste into a valuable resource setting a benchmark for cleaner and more self-reliant communities.
