Question : INDO US CLEAN ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

(a) Whether India and the United States have signed a bilateral agreement for setting up Indo-US Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre for undertaking research in the production of commercially viable bio-fuel ethanol and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad is reportedly not providing lab facility for bio-fuel research under the project;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Indo-US Joint team’s inspection had to be cancelled due to lack of proper lab facilities in JNTU, Hyderabad; and

(e) if so, the action the Government has taken/proposes to take in this regard including the steps taken to expedite research work?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (Y.S. CHOWDARY)

(a) Yes, Madam. The Joint Agreement was signed on 4th November, 2010 and the Biofuel consortium under Indo-US JCERDC was sanctioned on November, 2012.

(b) No, Madam. The project “U.S.-India Consortium for Development of Sustainable Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuel Systems” was awarded to Biofuel Consortium led by Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad and JNTU is one of the partners and work has been progressing satisfactorily.

(c) Not applicable

(d)&(e) No, Madam. JNTU has not reported any problem due to lack of any lab facility. The Project Monitoring Committee visited JNTU on March 16, 2015 and the progress was found to be satisfactory.