Business   

Panel to promote jatropha cultivation

Special Correspondent

Panchayats to play a major role

TAPPING RURAL POTENTIAL: The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj, Mani Shankar Aiyar, at the Bio-diesel Conclave in New Delhi on Saturday. — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI: Petroleum and Panchyati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar on Saturday announced that the Government would set up a committee to promote the cultivation of jatropha and other trees, which can be used for the production of bio-diesel.

Delivering the valedictory address at a conclave on "Panchayats and Petroleum -towards bio-diesel economy" here, the Minister said the proposed committee would comprise the Petroleum Secretary, the Panchyati Raj Secretary, Planning commission consultant and representatives from stakeholders.

Focusing on the need for bio-diesel, he said the country is importing crude oil worth Rs. 1,17,000 crore and bio-diesel production will help in saving foreign exchange. Mr. Aiyar said that there were about 2.5 lakh panchyats in the country and if each of them cultivated Jetropha in 50 acres, the production will meet the growing demand for oil in the country. He said the committee would work towards increasing the cultivation of jatropha tree by involving panchyats, which should encourage community cultivation of bio-diesel trees.

Mr Aiyar said the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme provided a major role to panchyats in creating assets in rural areas and its provisions should be utilised for the promotion of bio-diesel.

He said the Centre has recently announced a pricing policy of bio-diesel and fixed a price of Rs. 25 a litre for the purchase by Oil Marketing Companies.

Mr. Aiyar said farmers could get a price of Rs. 5 a kg for the seed, resulting in additional income particularly for the rural areas, where wasteland is found.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Economists pitch for further reforms
Panel to promote jatropha cultivation
Sinclairs Hotels to invest Rs. 50 cr.
Forum to focus on Mekong-India cooperation

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu