Govt working on national bio-fuel policy

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) The Government is formulating a national policy on bio-fuels , Minister of Non-Conventional Energy Sources V Muttemwar said here today.

''Formulation of a 'National Policy on Bio-Fuels' is proposed.

The details are being worked out,'' Mr Muttemwar rpt Muttemwar said in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

He said in another reply that the Ministry of Urban Development has requested the State Governments to consider issuing directives to the local bodies for modifying the building bye-laws with a view to making the installations of solar water heating systems mandatory in certain categories of buildings.

The State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Chandigarh have issued orders to the urban local bodies to make solar water heaters mandatory in functional buildings in their States.

As for the small hydro projects in tribal areas, the Andhra Pradesh State Government has established AP Tribal Power Company Ltd (AP -Tripco) under the Companies Act, 1956 for small hydro projects.

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