UP to set up at least one bio-fuel plant in each district to cut- down import
Lucknow,March 03(HS) Uttar Pradesh is moving fast to remove the BIMARU tag.In addition to other fields,the state will soon catch up with advanced ones in production of bio-fuel and help meeting the energy needs of the country.
It has proposed to set up at least one bio-fuel plant in each of 75 districts using cow dung and agricultural waste as raw material.The Indian Oil Corporation which was approached for the purpose has already prepared reports for 84 such projects in the state.
With investment of Rs 30 to 35 crore each these plants will provide employment opportunity to hundreds of youth in the state.
The gas produced by these plants will be purchased by the public sector giant.They will adopt PPP (Public- Private Participation),according to official sources here.
Sugarcane waste,cow dung and agricultural residues will be collected from farmers.Each unit will have tons of waste in this fashion which will be converted into bio-Compressed Natural Gas,using a new technology.This fuel will be used in vehicles as an alternative to diesel and petrol.
A number of private companies has shown interest in setting up this kind of plants.Work is already in progress in districts like Meerut.
State chief minister Yogi Adityanath had recently met union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan in this connection who had assured him all possible help.The scheme gathered momentum after that.
The Gaushalas or cow shelters set up in different parts of the state will largely meet the raw material requirement of these plants.
Some other states have also gone ahead in setting up such plants. According to official reports, there were seventeen natural gas plants in operation in the country last year spread over nine states including Maharashtra which had set up the first such plant.
A new bio-fuel policy was announced by the government in Delhi in 2009.This largely attracted investors in this field.The aim is to cut- down import and give a phillip to Make in India initiative.
