Mumbai, 22 Apr (HS): The Maharashtra Government approved the

implementation of Maharashtra State Compressed Biogas Policy, 2026. The decision

was taken in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday chaired by Chief Minister Devendra

Fadnavis. The implementation of this policy will make it possible to dispose of

waste in cities in an environmentally friendly manner and deal with various

problems arising out of garbage collection, and pollution of water sources.

A provision of Rs 500 crore was approved for the

year 2026-27 for the implementation of this policy. The cabinet also cleared

the proposal to set up plants using technologies required to make usable

compressed biogas. A Steering Committee headed by the Chief Secretary will be

constituted for implementation of the policies. The project will be implemented

on PPP and Hybrid Annuity basis. The strategy is to convert waste into energy

and fertilizer.

The policy aims to empower local bodies to

segregate, collect, process and convert waste into clean energy in urban areas.

The policy will encourage production of compressed biogas and integration of

solid waste management systems. This will reduce the load on land used for

solid waste disposal, improve public health, and enhance the quality of the

environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This policy will reduce energy and imports, reduced

dependence on fossil fuels and carbon emissions. It will provide a cleaner fuel

option for the transportation, industrial, and household sectors.

The policy aims at creation of infrastructure for

collection, storage, transportation of organic waste, supply of raw material

for CBG project, Waste-to-energy and organic manure production, to enable

farmers to earn supplementary income.

Public-private partnerships will increase

investment. Jobs will be created in rural and urban areas.

A minimum capacity of 200 tonnes per day has been

prescribed for CBG projects. These projects can be implemented in greenfield or

brownfield formats by local bodies, public sector companies and undertakings,

private developers, and oil and gas distribution companies. Provisions have

been made to set up cluster-based projects where adequate waste is not

available, as well as agricultural waste collection projects with the help of

Agricultural Producers Organizations.

A digital integration, portal, and mobile app-based

system will be set up to coordinate raw materials, project developers, and

collection agencies. There is a provision to provide government land, land near

waste treatment plants and land reserved for essential infrastructure on

long-term lease. Provision has also been made for expeditious grant of single

window clearances, land availability and other necessary clearances to the

projects.

The state-level steering committee will be headed by

the chief secretary and the district-level coordination committee by the

district collector. The projects will be selected, coordinated, implemented and

controlled by these committees. The projects will be implemented under

Public-Private Partnership Policy 2026 and Hybrid Annuity Model.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar