Alternative fuels

With around 90 per cent of Indian crude oil requirement (around 180 million tonnes per annum) now being met by imports and with the spiralling crude oil price, there is severe energy crisis waiting to happen in India.

To overcome the crisis, India urgently needs an appropriate energy plan in tune with the country's strength and opportunities. An option would be to focus on algae-based and jatropha-based biofuel.

Billions of dollars are now being pumped in by several multinational corporations abroad and governments in advanced countries to develop technology for optimising the production of algae biofuel and introduce it in a big way before 2020.

Algae contains oil many times more than that of conventional biofuel source such as corn. India has appropriate climatic and soil conditions to grow algae. It has to set up dedicated research and development centres with time-bound action plan to optimise the yield and production cost of algae and jatropha biofuel for use in the country.

The Finance Minister ought to have allotted at least Rs 1,000 crore towards such R&D activities, that would have provided an opportunity to Indian scientists and technologists with an opportunity to explore energy options for India.

N. S. Venkataraman

Chennai

Recruitment criteria

This refers to editorial “Finally, the right decision” ( Business Line , March 4).

With the Supreme Court striking down the appointment of the CVC, it is time the government became more transparent in the selection process of key members of important departments. Ordering the selection of non-IAS candidates too for key positions will bring in more accountability in functioning.

Vedula Krishna

Visakhapatnam

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