The minister of new and renewable energy Dr Farooq Abdullah today assured the Rajya Sabha that government is doing its best to improve the efficiency and try new feed material for biogas production.

In a written reply to the House, Dr Abdullah said over 6.08 lakhs biogas plants have been installed in the country against a target of 6.47 lakhs biogas plants during the Eleventh five year plan .
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Dr Abdullah said his ministry gets evaluation studies of biogas programme done on a regular basis. He informed the House that as per the report of the last evaluation study, conducted by an independent agency during 2008-09, about 95.08 per cent surveyed biogas plants were found functional in various regions of the country.

The minister also said 12 biogas development and training centres have been supported by his ministry for the development for new, innovative and appropriate technology for biogas plants.
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In addition to this, the minister said besides 18 research and development projects have also been supported at various institutes and universities to improve the efficiency for biogas production.