WORK OUT MODALITIES FOR TESTING & ENCOURAGING UTILIZATION OF FOM, AMAN ARORA ASKS OFFICIALS

• *Chairs maiden meet of task force*

Chandigarh, September 16:

Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora, on Friday, directed the officials to work out modalities for testing and encouraging utilization of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) produced by Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant as bi-product.

He was presiding over the maiden meeting of a 21-member Task Force constituted to discuss and create an enabling mechanism for off-take of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) generated from Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects based on agro-residue at Punjab Bhawan here.

Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants are the answer to thwart the stubble burning problem in scientific ways as these plants generate clean & green energy from paddy straw and other agro-residue, while creating extra income source for farmer community, said Mr. Aman Arora.

These types of projects will be benefiting the farmers in multiple ways as these plants use crop residual as raw material and collect the paddy stubble from their fields without putting any financial burden on them, he added.

As many as 20 million ton paddy straw was being produced every year, said Mr. Aman Arora while adding that Punjab has a huge potential for CBG plants based on agro-residue. Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is committed to facilitate and promote such environment and farmer friendly projects. The state government was providing various incentives including exemption of stamp duty & registration charges, EDC & CLU charges and one stop clearances system through Invest Punjab under State NRSE Policy-2012, he added.

Asia’s largest plant of total capacity 33.23 ton CBG per day has been commissioned in Sangrur and as many as 42 additional CBG projects of total capacity 492.58 tons per day have also been allocated by PEDA. On commissioning, these projects are expected to produce at least 10 lakh ton FOM annually. The utilization of the FOM will enhance the nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency and crop quality, the minister added. These projects are expected to fetch private investment of around Rs. 2000 crore, besides generating employment opportunities for 15000 skilled/unskilled persons.

Prominent among those who were present in the meeting include Additional Chief Secretary New & Renewable Energy Sources Mr. A Venu Prasad, Chief Executive PEDA Mr. Sumeet Jarangal and other senior officials of the state government and senior representatives of SSS National Institute of Bio Energy, Kapurthala, NFL, KRIBHCO, IFFCO, M/s Coromandel International Ltd, M/s. TATA Rallis India Ltd, M/S Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd, M/s. Sampuran Agri Venture Private Limited, M/s Verbio India Private Limited, M/s. EverEnviro Resource Management Private Limited, M/s PES Renewable Pvt. Ltd, and M/s. Cities Innovative Biofuels Private Limited.

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AMAN ARORA VISITS ASIA’S LARGEST CBG PLANT IN SANGRUR

Punjab New & Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr. Aman Arora yesterday visited Asia’s largest Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant commissioned at village Bhutal Kalan in Sangrur district. The Minister along with Chief Executive PEDA Mr. Sumeet Jarangal and Director Mr. MP Singh thoroughly reviewed the agro-residue based plant and the working of machinery being used to produce CBG. This October onwards, its consumption will gradually increase to 300 ton paddy stubble per day and will produce 33.23 ton bio-CNG daily.

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