To reduce pollution from burning of agricultural waste, a biomass-to-ethanol plant is being set up by Indian Oil Corporation in Panipat.
Chandigarh, Dec 21 – With a view to reduce pollution from burning of agricultural waste, a biomass-to-ethanol plant is being set up by Indian Oil Corporation in Panipat to prepare ethanol from agricultural and other residues.
This was stated by Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr. D.S. Dhesi, who was speaking at a workshop on Crop Residue Management organised at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar today.
Expressing concern over the adverse impact of crop residue burning on the environment, the Chief Secretary urged scientists to develop affordable and easy-to-use technology for management of crop residue and other types of waste. This project should also be profitable, he added.
He said that while educating farmers about the adverse impact of crop residue burning on the environment and soil fertility was the need of the hour, they should also be provided waste management facilities for effectively curbing the practice.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, said that wheat was sown over 13 lakh hectares in the State, producing 60 lakh ton of crop residue. Therefore, the State Government has decided to create awareness amongst the farmers to ensure effective management of this residue. This campaign would be first initiated in district Karnal, where farmers would be educated about crop waste management at village and block levels from next year onwards and the district would be made crop residue burning-free.
Principal Secretary, Environment Department, Mr. Shrikant Walgad, Director, Agriculture Department, Mr. Bhupinder Singh, and Vice-Chancellor, CCSHAU, Dr. K.P. Singh, also spoke on this occasion.