A unique initiative in Gujarat’s Junagadh district is transforming how meals are prepared for thousands. At Satadhar Dham, the community kitchen now serves approximately 10,000 pilgrims daily using biogas derived solely from cow dung.
Linked to Sant Apa Giga and renowned for its Sandhya Aarti, Satadhar Dham boasts the state’s largest biogas installation. Currently operational with four biogas plants, each capable of processing 85 cubic meters per day, two additional plants are on the way.
The facility houses around 1,000 cows that produce about 8,000 kg of cow dung every day. This waste fuels the biogas production process. Previously reliant on firewood—using up to 900 kg daily—and up to 15 LPG cylinders per day, management noted a significant shift since adopting biogas.
“We’ve completely transitioned to biogas,” said a spokesperson for the kitchen. “The slurry left over is then repurposed for farming within our campus.”
The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) plays a vital role in supporting such projects through its Institutional Biogas Plant Scheme, offering financial aid that covers up to 75% of costs for non-profits and up to 50% for others. In recent years, over 193 institutional biogas plants have been set up across Gujarat with a total capacity exceeding 13,900 cubic meters per day.
By promoting the scientific use of organic waste like livestock and agricultural refuse in anaerobic conditions, these initiatives not only foster energy independence but also aim to reduce environmental impacts. For the fiscal year of 2025-26 alone, GEDA has allocated Rs. 12 crore toward these projects and plans similar provisions for the upcoming year.