The Hindu : Other States / Madhya Pradesh News : Power-strapped MP turns to alternate sources of energy

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Monday, Apr 18, 2005

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Power-strapped MP turns to alternate sources of energy

Commercial production of biodiesel to start soon

BHOPAL: Power-strapped Madhya Pradesh has started making desperate attempts to tap non-conventional energy sources to supply electricity to villagers who have been accusing the government of bias in keeping urban consumers happy.

Amidst initiatives to convert wind, biomass and solar energy into power under rural electrification pilot projects, the State Government plans to shortly start country's first commercial production of biodiesel from Ratanjot (Jatropha curcus) and supply electricity to Bansdhari village in Mandla district.

``We will supply power to the non-electrified village (Bansdhari) by operating 15 KVA generator sets with bio diesel by June. The country's first plant for commercial production of bio diesel from Ratanjot would be set for it,'' Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam chairman, Dilip Singh Shekhawat told PTI.

While a similar proposal for Betul district was pending, the Centre recently sanctioned Rs 19.82 lakh for the plant, he said adding, ``this is only an example of things to come. Once the project gets going, the biodiesel would be sold for use as alternate fuel.''

Reeling under power deficit of 2000 MW, the situation continues to worsen due to shutdown of two-third of the 21 hydel units of its eight power plants and the Centre's refusal to withdraw alleged cut in its share of power.

When attempts to purchase electricity, even at thrice the normal prices, failed, duration of power cuts in rural areas were gradually extended to meet demands on priority basis, prompting villagers to question intentions of ruling BJP, which won the Assembly polls on promise of uninterrupted power.

``The nigam, which was formed in 1992, has been virtually non-functional. It was revived last year and has started producing results,'' Mr. Shekhawat said.

``By the end of this financial year, we plan to add 112 villages in the list of 22 others, who have been supplied power from solar hybrid systems,'' he said.

Research carried out by the Nigam showed that M.P. has a capacity to generate 150 MW power from wind and over 200 MW from biomass. Power generation units through windmills in Dewas and Dhar districts have set examples for other districts to follow, the Nigam chairman said.

The Centre's schemes like Rural Energy Security Scheme have come in handy. The Nigam, in coordination with the forest department, mooted biomass gassifier-power production scheme under it for installing plants to generate power from biomass in 26 villages.

Villages in 11 districts including Hoshangabad, Mandla, Dhar, Chhindwara, Betul, Jhabua, Harda and Seoni were approved by the Union Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, the Urja Vikas Nigam chairman said adding, a sum of Rs 1.77 crore was received from the Centre last month and work was on in the districts on war-footing.

Power generation from non-conventional sources was also being tried in rural areas on a priority basis by linking such projects with other State Government initiatives like the `Gokul Gram' scheme. --PTI

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Power-strapped MP turns to alternate sources of energy