Hyderabad, May 9 (KNN) To bring about improvement in rural sanitation, the office of the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) has invited bids from manufacturers and suppliers of BIS Biogas stoves, Gas Valves and Water Removers.

Biogas is generated through the process of anaerobic degradation or Bio-methanation of organic wastes. It is a cheap, appropriate and eco-friendly fuel. The process of generation of biogas has the added benefit of humus rich manure, the input generally used being cattle dung and leaves.

The Government of India launched the National Project on Biogas Development i.e., National Biogas and Manure Management Programme in 1981 with an aim to provide energy in a clean, unpolluting form for cooking and making available enriched fertilizer as a by–product for supplementing and optimizing the use of chemical fertilizer.

Another objective of the programme was to reduce pressure on dwindling fuel wood supplies and prevent indiscriminate deforestation.

Use of biogas stoves eliminates a smoke-filled cooking environment, reduces drudgery and prevents eye and lung diseases among rural women and children.

Each biogas plant of 1 m 3 capacities saves about 1266 kilograms (kgs) of firewood or 222 litres of kerosene or 12 cylinders (174 kgs) of LPG per year. (KNN)