Jaipur, Feb. 16 -- Rajasthan ranks second in India for waste-to-energy generation, with 67.54 MW equivalent capacity (MWeq) installed under Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme (NBP). The state also boasts 64.3 tonnes per hour (TPH) biomass pellet capacity, 2.5 MW biomass power capacity, and 567 small biogas plants. MWeq standardises the power output from diverse waste-to-energy plants into a single megawatt figure. Replying to a question from MP Harish Chandra Meena in the Lok Sabha on Friday, minister of state for new and renewable energy Shripad Yesso Naik informed that Rajasthan, at 67.54 MWeq, trails only by Uttar Pradesh (86.90 MWeq) and is ahead of Punjab (27.09 MWeq), Maharashtra (26.86 MWeq), Madhya Pradesh (24.13 MWeq), Gujarat (20.59 MWeq) and Delhi (26.17 MWeq). "The bio-energy projects contribute to clean energy production, scientific management of organic waste, reduction in dependence on fossil fuels and generation of rural employment through feedstock aggregation, plant operation and allied activities," said Naik. In biomass-based briquette and pellet manufacturing, Rajasthan has developed 64.3 TPH capacity, placing it among the top three states behind leaders Madhya Pradesh (291.95 TPH) and Gujarat (96.99 TPH). The national total stands at 614.24 TPH. Under biomass power projects (non-bagasse cogeneration), Rajasthan has installed 2.5 MW capacity, establishing an early footprint as Punjab (69.06 MW), Uttarakhand (36.95 MW) and Haryana (33 MW) lead in the category. The national total under Phase I is 216.86 MW. In decentralised clean energy, Rajasthan has set up 567 small biogas plants under NBP Phase-I, contributing to rural access, organic waste management and local employment-though far behind Maharashtra (14,468 plants) and Madhya Pradesh (6,260 plants). India-wide, 34,913 such plants are operational. District-level data under the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) support shows 12 bioenergy projects sanctioned in Rajasthan with central financial assistance (CFA) of Rs.7.74 crore. Jaipur received the highest at Rs.3.05 crore for two projects, followed by Kota (Rs.1.67 crore), Baran (Rs.1.04 crore), Bikaner (Rs.0.63 crore), Alwar (Rs.0.45 crore), Tonk (Rs.0.45 crore), Dholpur (Rs.0.28 crore) and Chittorgarh (Rs.0.18 crore). In the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency, six bioenergy projects have been registered, according to Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited, signalling growing decentralised renewable activity. The Centre clarified that financial assistance for urban bio-waste projects flows under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban through the ministry of housing and urban affairs, with funds released to states and urban local bodies based on approved action plans....