The Hindu Business Line : Panels on alternative fuels to meet tomorrow

TO synergise their efforts, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj have come together to seek the advice of the Parliamentary Consultative Committees on initiatives in alternative fuels.

A joint meeting of the consultative committees attached to these ministries has been convened on April 26.

The discussion will be on the steps that can be taken by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for promoting Jatropha curcus (the oil from which bio-diesel can be produced) on community lands and indicative policies that can be considered by the Ministry of Petroleum for providing demand-end support for buying bio-diesel, an official release said.

Alternative fuels, particularly bio-fuels, can address the twin concerns of the national common minimum programme and energy security, while meeting the global objective of reducing environmental pollution.

As India traverses the path of economic growth, its dependence on imported crude oil is increasing, the release said. From 70.7 per cent in 2003-04, import dependence on oil is estimated to go up to 85 per cent in 2020. Increased consumption of most hydrocarbons also contributes to environmental pollution.

In the quest for achieving energy security and reducing environmental pollution, alternative fuels emerge as niche area. In the Indian context, alternative fuels imply inter-alia substituting conventional fuels in part by blending with renewable fuels, such as ethanol, bio-diesel and hydrogen.

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