CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government is in talks with various companies for the domestic production of bio-fuel from stubble and also has plans to provide agriculture implements to farmers on subsidised rates to keep a check on the practice of burning paddy stubble in the State, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said.
Khattar was speaking to mediapersons after attending the meeting of Nation Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board held under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The meeting which was organised to discuss various steps taken by the States on pollution control was also attended by Union Minister of State (independent charge), planning and urban development, Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana public works (building and roads) minister Rao Narbir Singh, and representatives of the government of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.
Khattar said that the agriculture implements to be provided by the government would help farmers in collecting paddy straw which could be utilised in other activities later on. He said that the State government is contemplating on preparing bio-fuel from the stubble and is in constant touch with various companies in this regard. Apart from this, farmers are being made aware about the ill effects of burning the paddy stubble, he added. He said that the use of paddy stubble in the production of bio-fuel could significantly increase farmers' income.
Khattar said that the construction work of Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway has already been undertaken and that it would significantly help in reducing the vehicular pressure on NCR. He said that the Palwal-Manesar part of the expressway has been opened to the public, whereas the construction of Kundli to Manesar stretch is still underway and would be completed at the earliest.
The CM said that discussion was also held in the meeting regarding the definition of Forest and Aravalis and issues concerning NCR. He said that the process has been expedited in related cases. He added that various effective steps were being taken by the State government towards pollution control.
Haryana chief secretary DS Dhesi said that the provision of green belt has been made alongside all Expressways, National Highways, State Highways and Railway Lines passing through Haryana. He said with a view to boost public transportation in NCR area, Gurugram Development Authority (GDA) has prepared a plan to purchase 500 CNG buses.
Apart from this, CNG-run NCR Motor Cab (Taxi) Scheme is also being looked into, he said. For this, he suggested that CNG filling stations be opened in NCR area and on National Highways and State Highways.