Community kitchens in Delhi gurdwaras to switch to biogas

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The biogas plant will be set up in collaboration with an internationally reputed organic waste convertor company and is likely to be funded by a multinational corporation.

MANJEET SINGH GK, DSGMC chief

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s gurdwara management committee has planned to switch from piped natural gas to biogas to run its langar (community kitchen) in 10 shrines here, including Bangla Sahib and Rakab Ganj gurdwaras.

The move is aimed at reducing carbon footprint, cut fuel cost and making the shrines environment friendly, said Manjeet Singh GK, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

Initially, the biogas plants would be set up at Rakab Ganj and Bangla Sahib gurdwaras that generate largest quantity of biodegradable waste, GK said.

The community kitchen in these gurdwaras serves food to around 30,000 visiting devotees every day. Each plant would have the capacity to manage four quintal of kitchen waste per day, he said.

“The biogas plant will be set up in collaboration with an internationally reputed organic waste convertor company and is likely to be funded by a multinational corporation under its corporate social responsibility,” GK said.

The community kitchens of remaining eight gurdwaras will switch to bio fuel by the end of 2019 in a phased manner, said Harjit Singh, who heads renewable energy wing of the DSGMC.

The operating cost of the plant is low and there is no need for maintenance for initial two years. It is very easy to operate once installed, he said.

Besides providing clean fuel, these plants will also address efficient disposal of bio waste. The manure produced in the process will be used as fertiliser for garden and lawns at the shrines, he added.