Govt not to provide assistance for jatropha cultivation

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Centre would not provide financial assistance for setting up more pilot projects for Jatropha cultivation in the country, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Replying to a question, Minister of State for Rural Development A Narendra said the Government had set up of committee under the Group of Ministers to look into the various issues involving the cultivation of Jatropha. The GOM would also examine measures to ensure that tribals did not face any problem in the wake of Jatropha cultivation.

He said the cultivation programme was not only being encouraged by the Centre and even many states had come up with projects and proposals in this regard.

He said in Chhattisgarh, the state-owned Minor Forest Produce Federation, through its 913 members cooperative societies, and in Uttarakhand the State Forest Development Corporation have been identified as the nodal agencies for the procurement of Jatropha seeds for the manufacture of bio-diesel.

In other states, initiatives concerning the bio-diesel programme were still at a nascent stage.

He said the Ministry of Rural Development had released Rs 49 crore during 2005-06 and Rs 49.50 crore during 2006-07 to the State Government for the purpose of raising Jatropha/pongamia nurseries.

He said the Ministry did not provide any financial assistance to NGOs and any individual during the last three years for Jatropha cultivation.

UNI