on development of bio fuels in the country.

08.07.04


Sub: Inclusion of PCRA in the committee of Planning Commission on development of bio fuels in the country.

PCRA, as a registered society under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, was created around twenty-five years back, to formulate strategies and to promote measures for accelerating conservation of petroleum products. One of its main objectives is to support and facilitate efforts for adoption and dissemination of fuel-efficient technologies and substitution of petroleum products with alternate and renewable fuels.

Bio-diesel is also a renewable fuel made from edible or non-edible vegetable oil and has been proved to be good substitute for petroleum diesel. Planning Commission has also formed a committee on development of bio fuels in the country. It has also published a report of this committee in April’03. In the composition of the committee; PCRA’s name has not been included through it has been contributing enormously towards the activities for development of bio fuels.

PCRA has undertaken several innovative activities for spreading mass awareness, developing mass contacts and effectively interacting with them. The extensive reach of PCRA has been utilised for spreading awareness & promoting use of bio fuels as an alternate to petro-fuels for conservation of petroleum products.

Some of such activities are as under:

1. Seminars (sponsored and attended):

a. Co-sponsored a Seminar on Bio-fuels during September 18-19, 2002. This was inaugurated by Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas at India Habitat Center.

b. Attended an International Workshop on Bio-fuels organized by Winrock International during May 19 -20,2003 at Hotel Le Meridien.

2. Conception, production & telecast of 30 minute edutainment TV Serial ‘Khel Khel Mein Badlo Duniya” at DD-1 on every Sunday from 2:00 to 2:30 PM. 53 episode have already been telecast & another 77 are planned. Topics related to bio-fuels have been extensively covered.

3. Conception, production & broadcast of weekly infotainment programme “Boond Boond ki Baat” at AIR FM GOLD on every Monday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. This is also being repeat-broadcast in 6 different languages on 37 Radio Stations.

4. Bringing out a monthly magazine “Sanrakshan Chetna” (in Hindi & other regional languages) with editorial by ED PCRA. An issue (March’04) has been dedicated to bio-fuel in India apart from regular coverage of it.

5. Bringing out Quarterly Technical Journal “Active Conservation Technique” with editorial from ED PCRA. One of the issues (April-June’04) has been dedicated to bio-fuels apart from regular coverage.

6. Conception, Designing & printing of two brochures on Bio-diesel; one in Hindi and other in English.

7. Holding Kisan Melas, Exhibitions, seminars / technical meets, Driver Training Programmes, Emission Awareness programmes etc. These fora are being used for spreading awareness among masses on bio fuels.

8. We have also been promoting R&D in bio-fuels by sponsoring related projects on reputed R&D institutes of India. Some of such projects are:

a. Development of petrol-alcohol-water micro-emulsion fuel as a substitute for petrol and ethanol-blended petrol. It has been sponsored on IIT, Delhi.
b. Production of Biogas from non edible seeds as alternative to LPG/Kerosene. It has been sponsored on Shivsadan Renewable Energy Research Institute, Sangli.

9. Apart from these activities; we have developed institutional linkages with Delhi College of Engineering, which has developed simple technology & equipment for production & esterification of bio-diesel at small and large scale. This technical know-how is being spread to small farmers.

10. We have also initiated a program for development of bio-fuels at small scale through the participation of Self Help Groups. In this program; technical know-how for bio-diesel production & esterifications will be provided by experts from Delhi College of Engineering to 20 women of an SHG from Orissa through the initiatives & cooperation by PCRA.

Some CDs & few issue of magazines developed, screened & extensively distributed by PCRA are also enclosed for your appreciation.

PCRA wants to tell the farmers at large, that bio-diesel production is easy & profitable. For this, we have shot many films on production & usage of bio-diesel by small farmers. These films would be extensively screened in our campaign programs and also in our TV programs to instil a feeling of belongingness & capacity building among farmers. Films provide details on methodology & economics of Jatropha cultivation, oil extraction & its multiple usage.

As can been seen from above, PCRA has very extensive & all pervasive reach among masses which, in fact covers all section of fuel users. We understand that to convert the bio-diesel program at National level into a success story, people’s participation is imperative.

In view of wide spread reach of PCRA with the masses, which is being successfully exploited, we feel that PCRA can significantly contribute for the development of bio-fuels in the country. If PCRA is also taken in this committee for development of bio-fuels formed by Planning Commission, the reach of PCRA can bring substantial results.

It is therefore requested that PCRA should also be included in the committee of Planning Commission on development of bio fuels.

With regards,


(Leena Mehendale)


Encl : As above

Shri Dina Nath Tiwari
Member, Planning Commission
Yojana Bhawan
Parliament Street
New Delhi – 110 001


Copy to:

Addl. Secretary,
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Shastri Bhawan, 2nd Floor
New Delhi – 110 001



ENCLOSURES

1. CDs of following episodes of TV programs.

Sl. No Title Date of telecast
1. Bio-gas Jul 13, 03
2. Bio-diesel Sept 28, 03

2. CDs of following episodes of Radio Programs.

Sl No. Title Date of broadcast Expert
1. Bio-fuel and Bio-gas Feb 24, 03 Sh. S. Behuria CMD, BPCL
2. Bio-mass and Gasifier Oct 06, 03 Sh. JBS Giridhar, Dir (Biomass), MNES
3. Energy from Wastes Nov 03, 03 Sh. A. K. Singhal, Dir (Energy), MNES
4. Energy Conservation in Agriculture Sector Dec 22, 03 Dr. Pitam Chandra, Addl. Dir. ICAR
5. PCRA’s activities in Agriculture Sectors June 23, 03 Prof. P.P. Parikh, Prof. Mechanical Engg. Deptt., IIT, Mumbai
6. Jatropha & Bio-diesel May 17, 04 Dr. Prakash Kumar, ED, NOSVO Board, Gurgaon.

3. Copies of following issue of monthly Hindi magazine.

Sl No. Topic Issue
1 Use of Ethanol - “The need of the hour” December, 02
2 Bio-diesel and Indian Railways March, 03
3 Bio-diesel can change India April, 03
4 Ethanol import to Maharashtra June, 03
5 Planning for Jatropha Plantation Sept, 03
6 Bio-diesel from Jatropha October, 03
7 Bio-diesel from Rapeseed November, 03
8. Uses of Bio-gas December’ 04
9. 2004 – Year of Bio-trade February’ 04
10. Bio-diesel – Journey from Green, White to Black Revolution March’ 04



4. Copies of following issue of Quarterly Technical Journal.

Sl No Topic Issue
1. Substituting Fossil Fuel by bio-gas Oct – Dec, 2003
2. Usage spectrum of Jatropha plantations in India Jan – Mar, 2003
3. Bio-fuels - the beginning of a new revolution Apr-June’ 04

5. Following brochures on Bio-diesel.

1. One brochure in Hindi
2. One brochure in English