As part of efforts to create jobs, Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said a Cabinet note is being prepared to utilise wastelands for setting up industries through innovative business approach.
“We are shortly going to approach the Cabinet on the policy of utilising wasteland for employment generation,” Gadkari told reporters in New Delhi.
There are huge chunks of wasteland available that can be utilised for setting up some edible oil or non-edible oil industries, he said.
Mr. Gadkari added that at present the bio-diesel produced in the country is being exported, and “we need to make necessary amendments in the government policy to change the situation.”
The minister said he will discuss the matter with the ministries of power, railways and petroleum and natural gas.
He was speaking at a bio-diesel conference.
Globally, biodiesel consumption was 22 million tonnes in 2013, while the domestic consumption has been at 0.11 MT from 2009-2014 against a huge demand of 33 MT.
Mr. Gadkari had said earlier that necessary changes are being made in laws to bring them on par with international standards to enable cars, especially those running on bio-fuels, to ply on Indian roads.
Installed biodiesel capacity of around 1.2 MTPA and biodiesel manufacturing industry has attracted a total investment of around Rs. 1,200 crore.
Biodiesel Association of India President Sandeep Chaturvedi said: “While drugs, cosmetics can be sold directly to consumers, there is restriction on selling clean fuel to bulk consumers.
“Allowing direct sale of biodiesel to bulk users can help save up to Rs. 420 crore of Forex spent on buying crude.”
