The Hindu : Kerala News : Refinery to be set up to benefit jatropha growers

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Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007
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Kerala

Refinery to be set up to benefit jatropha growers

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: Even as civil rights activists are opposing the Rajasthan Government’s move to acquire huge tracts of land for jatropha cultivation, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has speeded up efforts to establish a refinery in the State for production of bio-fuel from the plant. The processing unit will ensure remunerative prices to jatropha growers.

Addressing a public function in Udaipur on Monday, Ms. Raje said the barren and unproductive land lying in disuse for several years in various parts of the State had been allotted for jatropha farming after framing of new rules. “We have speeded up efforts to establish a refinery in an area of jatropha concentration through an agreement,” she added.

Ms. Raje said 4,000 hectares of land for jatropha cultivation had been allotted in Udaipur district alone to 278 self-help groups and 186 village panchayats. “The rural employment guarantee scheme has been utilised to grow as many as one crore jatropha plants in the district,” she added.

The Chief Minister, while affirming that each member of the self-help groups would earn an additional Rs.50,000 annually following these measures, said similar initiatives were being taken in other districts as well.

Ms. Raje said an efficient financial management in the State had led to welfare of each section of society. The drive for jatropha cultivation was one of the important steps to make the State self-sufficient to meet its energy requirements, she added.

Ms. Raje handed over land allotment papers for jatropha cultivation to Vandevi Self-Help Group, Pai; Geetanjali Self-Help Group, Dodawali; and Rama Women’s Small Savings Group, Dhar, on the occasion.

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