BIOMAS DEVELOPMENT GETS BOOST

New Delhi, 10 November 2006

NEW DELHI, November 11 (INFA): The Union Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) has signed a $39.15 million project with the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Fund (UNDPGEF) and KFW banking group of Germany, for developing biomass projects in the country.

The project aims at removing barriers related to sustained supply of biomass, appropriate technology, equipment supply, and development of standards for biomass energy projects.

The three-year project would be financed by UNDPGEF ($5.65 million) and MNES ($5.24 million).  The KFW would provide around $24.82 million, while other financial institutions and private entities would contribute $3.44 million.

India has a biomass energy potential of about 19,000 MW and a co-generation potential of about 5000 MW.  At present, power projects of over 1000 MW capacity based on biomass and co-generation have been set up in the country.

Meanwhile, an ambitious community project which aims at addressing the energy needs of rural India in a reliable and sustainable manner is underway in Kabbigere village near Tumkur in Karnataka.

This is the setting up of Asia’s first community-based biomass gasifier power plant, which will contribute 0.5 MW to the Central grid and will ensure uninterrupted power supply to Kabbigere, Chikkannanahalli, Chikkarasanahalli, Ajjenahalli and Obenahalli villages.

The pilot project is being implemented under the ‘Biomass Energy for Rural India’ (BERI) project.  According to the project co-ordinator, biomass generation costs only Rs.2 to Rs.3 crore per megawatt, as compared to wind which costs Rs.4 to Rs.4.5 crore, and solar photovoltaics which costs Rs.35 to Rs.40 crore.

The technology was developed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and the project is jointly funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) of UNDP, India-Canada Environmental Facility (ICEF), Government of India, and the Government of Karnataka.---INFA

E-POLICE SEVA CENTRES

HYDERABAD, November 11 (INFA): People residing in the Hyderabad Police limits need not go to a police station to obtain certificates, permission or licences. Nearly fiftyeight services will be available now through e-Seva centres in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

In March last year, the Police had 18 services. Now they have been extended to 40 services.

Since March 2006, more than 3,200 persons have availed the services. The services are being monitored through an electronic monitoring system. ---INFA