AP Govt to bring 'bio-diesel' policy soon

Hyderabad, June 6 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said the government would formulate a bio-diesel policy and act at the earliest.

Reviewing the current status of bio-diesel plantation programme with the officials concerned and Rural Development Minister G Chinna Reddy here, the chief minister said 3.60 crore Pongamia seedlings would be planted during 2007-08 under National Rural Employment Gurantee Programme (NREGP).

The Rain Shadow Areas Development Department has called for expression of interest from private entrepreneurs for participation in Pongamia plantation in Nalgonda, Prakasam and Chittoor Districts.

The officials informed the chief minister that, so far, pit digging was taken up in an area of 1.60 lakh acre and the area planted was 1.08 lakh acre under bio-diesel programme taken up under NREGP in the state, the release added.

UNI