Scientific adviser to PM visits biogas plant at Katra

Srinagar, Dec 8: R. Chidambaram, principal scientific adviser to the Prime Minister, on Monday, visited the 4-ton per day capacity mule-dung based bio-gas plant established by the Shrine Board at Banganga, Katra and took stock of this initiative taken by the Shrine Board.

He had been requested by Shri N.N. Vohra, Governor of J&K, who is the Chairman Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to look into various initiatives taken by the Board towards harnessing latest technologies for improvement of the Yatra and to advise on further improving the same.

Dr. M.K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, who accompanied Dr Chidambaram, briefed him about the efforts made by the Shrine Board towards preserving the environment, including the initiative taken to undertake large scale plantation of trees, setting up solar water heating systems and solar power plants, setting up of automated nurseries and vermin-compost units, use of bio-digester technology developed by DRDO for sewage treatment, implementation of rain water harvesting systems, among others.

Dr Chidambaram appreciated the efforts made by the Shrine Board and stressed the need for carrying forward these initiatives, apart from bringing into play new scientific interventions for further improving the functional efficiencies in various fields.

Later, Dr. Chidambaram interacted with the officers of the Shrine Board and advised on the need to make efforts for exploring possibilities of collecting mule dung at source in order to enable its better disposal. Various methods of non-biodegradable waste disposal, including poly-crack technology, use of Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) for improving scientific interventions etc. were discussed during the interaction.

Dr. M. K. Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Mr. B. Mohandaas, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Gopal Sharma, Deputy Divisional Manager of the Shrine Board were among those present during the interaction.

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