(a) whether the Government has any proposal to involve Panchayati Raj institutions in promoting bio-fuels in the country;
(b) if, so the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any proposal to implement/assist the State Governments in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS & PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Under its Rural Business Hubs initiative, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been working to involve Panchayati Raj Institution (PRIs) in the promotion of the cultivation of Jatropha for bio-diesel.
(c) & (d): Yes, Sir. The Government is acting as a facilitator between the State Government, Panchayati Raj Institutions and the Corporate Sector with the help of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). The PRIs are being invited to identify through their Gram Sabhas farmers who wish to take up Jatropha cultivation, and to then associate such farmers with corporate entities involved in bio-diesel with the intermediation of the PRIs. The Government in association with State Governments, PRIs and the Petroleum Conservation and Research Association (PCRA) is planning to conduct mass awareness programmes on the plantation of Jatropha, collection of seeds and extraction of oil for the production of bio-diesel. A joint Committee of the Ministries of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj and the Planning Commission has been formed with the representative of several stakeholders and specialist technical agencies to pursue the involvement of the panchayats and corporate entities in public-private- panchayat-partnerships to promote the cultivation of Jatropha for bio-diesel.