Work on Punjab's first biomass project starts

Patiala, Dec 19: Union Minister of state for renewable energyVilas Muttemwar today unveiled the foundation stone of a biomassproject for the generation of power from paddy straw and other farmwastes at Baghaura village, near here.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who holds the power portfolio was also present on the occasion.

This 12 MW project will be the first out of nine similar projectsto be set up in rural Punjab. This plant will become operational withintwo years followed by other similar units which will come up withinfour year, generating a total of 108 MW of electricity.

This project has been undertaken by Punjab Biomass Power Ltd, ajoint venture between Bermaco Energy Systems Ltd, GammolnInfrastructure Project Ltd and Archean Granites Pvt Ltd.

This unique 'farmer to farmer' project and the other eight willall be located in rural areas and will provide valuable extra power tofarmers. The nine biomass projects will provide additional income tosome 10,000 to 15,000 farmers located around each project area, fromthe sale of agricultural wastes.

In Punjab around one lakh million tonnes of paddy straw are burntevery year after the harvest season despite warnings by agri expertsand enviornmentalists.

The project will also be a major milestone in the area ofenvironment protection in three ways. Firstly, it will convertagriculture waste to valubale energy. Secondly, it will reduce therelease of smoke and other pollutants caused by the burning of paddystraw into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Lastly, the plant will also use no non-renewable fossil fuels and will therefore also earn valuable carbon credits.

The project has been a major thrust area for the PunjabGovernment, the Punjab State Electricity Board, the Department ofScience and Technology and other state government organisations thathave jointly worked to develop it.

UNI