Paddy straw-based power plant technology introduced
New Delhi Nov 21 (IANS) Punjab -based Sampurn Agri Ventures (SAVPL) has introduced a biogas-based power plant operating on paddy straw thus making available an alternative to straw-burning that is said to be a major contributor to high smog levels in Delhi.
The new technology not just generates nearly 4 000 cubic metres of biogas from 10 tonnes of agricultural residue but also produces fertiliser said Sanjeev Nagpal Chairman of SAVPL at a press conference here on Tuesday.
He said the company had already set up a plant in Fazilka in Punjab which was approved by Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi and Punjab Agriculture University. It is Asia s first biogas-based power plant.
"Paddy straw is an asset not a liability. We are going to set up 42 such plants across Punjab -- at least two in every district. Each plant will need 70 tonnes of paddy straw every day " Nagpal said.
The company said every 2 500 tonnes of straw handling would create 20 jobs. About 30 million tonnes of straw produced in Punjab and Haryana would generate 3.5 lakh jobs directly and 3 lakh jobs indirectly he said.
--IANS
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