Centre Plans 6 Diesel-Free Districts In Maharashtra

The central government is planning to reduce air pollution by banning diesel fuel in Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Wardha districts in the next five years.

On Friday, Union minister Nitin Gadkari had reportedly said that six bio-CNG plants have been set up in Maharashtra and 50 buses are running using this fuel produced by organic farming.

On electric mobility, the minister said, “We do not want to shut down any industry. We want to help them out. We want to include the private sector in all our schemes so that the growth rate and employment potential in development increases.”

Earlier, in October 2018, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had announced a policy for bio-CNG made from paddy stubble to be sold at Rs 46 per kg, with a subsidy of Rs 7 crore if a project uses 70 tonnes per day of stubble. Indian Oil Corporation and other oil marketing companies have inked MoUs with Punjab and Haryana to buy the fuel.

The policy was implemented keeping in mind air pollution levels in Delhi, a result of burning of stubble in Punjab and Haryana.

Paddy is procured at Rs 2/kg and setting up a bio-CNG at village level costs Rs 35 lakh, according to a report in the Economic Times.