From the Minister

I am glad to know that Gwalior Engineering College is Organizing a two day workshop on “Energy farming for rural sustainability & economy with Bio-diesel as a tool” in association with Rajiv Gandhi Technical University on 18th and 19th March, 2007.

Alternative fuel is the matter of greats concern in todays developments in all the spheres of human activities and endeavors, especially surface transport and other utilities, the need of petroleum products has increased manifold. The existing reserves of petroleum are being explorated and exploited as a result, these reserves will be depleted in future and calls for to search an alternative source for energy and Bio-diesel is one of the possible alternative energy source besides others.

Recent Research has shown that Jatropha commonly known as “Ratanjot” can also be an answer to the alternative fuel and also to convert the unfertile and unproductive land to become productive and useful to human society for production of Bio-diesel.

I appreciate the initiative taken by the Rajiv Gandhi Technical University its Vice-Chancellor, Dr. P.B. Sharma, to start a pilot project for Bio-diesel shall prove to be a landmark in this field and also Er. Amar Sharma, Chairman of the Gwalior Engineering College who has taken lead in campaign for developing the potential of Bio-diesel from Jatropha.

I wish all the success to this National Workshop.

Kanti Lal Bhuria
Minister of State for Agriculture,
Consumer Affairs,Food & Public Distribution Government of India