The Hindu Business Line : National mission on bio-diesel

This is with reference to, "National mission on bio-diesel gets Plan panel approval : To be implemented in two phases," (Business Line, January 19).

The Rural Development Ministry, will be the nodal Ministry for implementing the bio-diesel mission. The production of bio-diesel from jatropha seeds and pongamia seeds is being experimented with in several States such as Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The Government has been rather sluggish in its attitude towards the framing of the bio-diesel policy.

The Petroleum Ministry has fixed the basic purchase price of bio-diesel at Rs 25 per litre; it has prescribed that the fuel quality should be certified by the Bureau of Industrial Standards from January 1.The Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Iyer, it appears, has not studied the availability of feedstock of jatropha, pongamia oil or any non-edible oil. The Union Minister should first consult the respective State Governments, agricultural departments and renewable energy departments of these States.

Everybody will agree that there is no feedstock and so fixing the basic price at Rs 25 could destroy the budding bio-diesel industry. The Government of India should revise the bio-diesel purchase policy immediately, otherwise no farmer will cultivate jatropha.

S. A. Alagarsamy

Member, Biodiesel Core Committee

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With the escalating cost of crude oil in the international market and India importing 70 per cent of its oil requirement, it has become imperative to find alternative sources of energy. Among other conventional sources, bio-diesel is a promising alternative. The government should take necessary steps to implement it fast. The advantage is that jatropha and karanjia could be grown in arid or semi-arid regions. Plans for extensive cultivation of these plants in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Chattisgarh are promising.

A. Jacob Sahayam,

Thiruvananthapuram

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