Govt sets up over 56 MW waste-to-energy capacity in last 3 years: Singh

New Delhi: As part of its efforts to promote waste-to-energy, the government has set up a total capacity of 56.34 MW for power generation from waste in last three years, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

So far 199 waste-to-energy projects for generation of biogas/bio CNG/ power based on urban, industrial, agriculture waste and municipal solid waste have been successfully established in the country as on October 31, 2019, Minister of State for Power, New and Renewable Energy R K Singh said in a reply to the Lok Sabha.

"A total capacity of 56.34 MW has been set up for power generation from waste garbage/material during last three years and current year in the country," he said.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, he said, is implementing a scheme 'Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes/Residues' for promoting setting up waste-to-energy to recover energy in the form of biogas or bio-CNG from urban industrial and agricultural wastes.

The scheme also provides central financial assistance in the form of "back-end subsidy" to developers for setting up such projects, he informed the house.

Earlier on Tuesday, Power Minister R K Singh said electricity generation in India rose 7.4 per cent in the first quarter ended June 2019, and 6.7 per cent in July.