•The 'Uthhan Gobardhan' biogas project in Galatun village, Mantheshwar block, Purba Bardhaman, established in February 2024, is now largely non-functional.
•Built under Swachh Bharat Mission with Fifteenth Finance Commission funds, the plant cost over Rs. 68 lakhs, plus Rs. 9 lakhs for a kitchen shed.
•Designed to produce 50 cubic meters of biogas from cow dung, it aimed to empower local milk producers and reduce environmental pollution.
•Despite thousands of cattle in the Denur region and plans to collect dung from 120 farmers, the project slowed down after initial success.
•Locals, including Arup Kumar Chakraborty, and Denur Panchayat Deputy Head Makdam Hossain Sheikh, are demanding its restart to benefit from alternative fuel and boost the dairy business.
