PRIs to cultivate Jatropha for bio-fuel

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) The Ministry of Panchayat Raj is working to promote the cultivation of Jatropha for bio diesel by involving Panchayat Raj Institutions(PRIs).

In its Rural Business Hubs initiative, the Government is acting as a facilitator between the State Governments, PRIs and the Corporate sector with the help of Confederation of Indian Industries, Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyer said.

Mr Aiyer said interested PRIs were being introduced to business houses which express their desire to encourage the local community to take up Jatropha cultivation in their respective jurisdiction.

Three MOUs in this connection had been signed between D-1 Oil (India) on the one hand and PRIs in the districts of Mewar, Faridabad and Yamuna Nagar in Haryana on the other.

A joint committee of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Panchayat Raj and the Planning Commission had been formed with several stakeholders and specialised technical agencies to encourage PRIs in promoting the cultivation of Jatropha for bio deisel.

UNI YS MIR DB2032 1955