MoEFCC: Financial assistance for new ex-situ pelleting plants

Addressing participants at a workshop in Chandigarh, Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Mr Bhupender Yadav commended the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to substantially bring down the paddy farm fire counts during 2022 and urged everyone to work in the direction of total elimination of the unsustainable agricultural practice.

Mr Yadav has also declared a financial assistance model through the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for capital subsidy for setting up of pelleting and briquetting plants for different ex-situ projects.

Discussions were held on topics like reduction of paddy straw, diversification to other crops/varieties, promotion of DSR method, improving efficacy of PUSA bio-decomposer, effective in-situ management through optimal utilization of CRM machinery, and IEC activities/campaigns towards prevention of stubble burning.

Ex-situ utilization of paddy straw and deriving economic value for farmers and other players in the value chain were also discussed. The session saw presentations on ex-situ management of agricultural residue in Punjab and Haryana, production of bio-ethanol from paddy straw and biomass, manufacture of CBG from paddy straw, biomass-based power projects using paddy straw, paddy straw as fuel in industrial boilers, 100% fueling of brick kilns by biomass/paddy pellets, manufacture of pellets/ torrefied pellets for fuel in thermal power plants and brick kilns and other industrial applications and potential of paddy straw in applications like particle board industry and packaging.

Disclaimer: This article is taken from a press release issued by PIB.