A celebration to mark the completion of more than 2,000 biogas plants construction in the country was held in Gelegphu, yesterday. Starting 2011, 2,172 have been constructed in 13 dzongkhags in the country.
During the celebration, a letter of appreciation was awarded to Livestock Sector of Samtse Dzongkhag for constructing the highest number of biogas plants during the first pilot project phase. From 2011-14, the dzongkhag constructed 453 plants.
“It is very important to make use of these plants for a long time by initiating maintenance from time to time,” said agriculture ministry’s secretary, Tenzin Dendup.
Samdrup Jongkhar Livestock Sector constructed the highest number of plants, 257, in the second phase from 2014-15.
Similarly, two masons from Samtse and Sarpang, Nima Singh Limbu and Bhakta Bahadur Pulami, were also awarded certificates for constructing highest number of biogas plants in their dzongkhags. They constructed 54 plants each.
The biogas programme was initiated in Bhutan in 2011 with financial support from the Asian development Bank.
Livestock Director, Dr. Tashi Samdrup said biogas plants would be solution for conserving forest. “It has become cause of concern because data suggest firewood consumption in Bhutanese households is one of the highest in the world with burning rate of 388.2 kg per month.”
He also said biogas has many advantages. “It reduces smoke-borne disease particularly acute respiratory infection and increases our farm produce with use of bio-slurry in our farm. It also reduces import of chemical fertiliser.”
Biogas project was first initiated under five subtropical dzongkhags: Samtse, Chhukha, Sarpang, Dagana and Tsirang as pilot phase.
In 2014, it expanded to eight more dzongkhags: Lhuentse, Monggar, Pema Gatshel, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse and Samdrup Jongkhar, Wangdue Phodrang and Punakha.
