Andhra committed to bio-diesel policy: CM

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy yesterday reaffirmed his commitment to promote bio-diesel plantations in a big way.

Addressing a national seminar on bio-fuels "" The Bioleum-2004 "" here on Tuesday, the chief minister said Andhra Pradesh would show the way to the rest of the country in augmenting renewable energy sources through bio-fuels.

"It is a pity that mankind has been able to use up the entire fossil fuel resources in just 200 years, what took 600 crore years for mother earth to accumulate. Today, 40 per cent of the country's import bills are on account of oil imports, significantly increasing the trade deficit. Estimates show that the demand is likely to grow at a faster pace over the next decade if India is to maintain the GDP growth target of 8 per cent," Rajasekhara Reddy said while stressing the need for bio-fuel production in the country.

Though the state government during the current year has envisaged the cultivation of jatropha plantations in 2.5 lakh acres, only about 60,000-65,000 acres of land is likely to be covered due to the shortage of seedlings. The chief minister refuted the notion that bio-diesel plantations would be grown only on wasteland and in rain fed conditions.

"As far as Rayalaseema and south Telangana are concerned, practically there is not much difference between the waste lands and the cultivable lands as both lands yield very little. "So upgradation of soil fertility and partial irrigation would be necessary to get viable yields from jatropha," he explained.

He also advised the industrialists to pay Rs 6 a kg to the farmers instead of Rs 5, which will give further impetus to the bio-fuel plantations, according to him.

O P Goenka, president of Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Fapcci), presided over the session.