‘We are making bitumen from rice straw’: Nitin Gadkari urges leaders to adopt biofuels and stop using petrol, diesel | Nagpur News
NAGPUR: Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday urged public representatives and civic officials to transition to vehicles powered by alternative fuels. Gadkari emphasised the need to reduce dependence on conventional fuels such as petrol and diesel.Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur, Gadkari said he had advised the city’s mayor and other leaders to adopt vehicles running on biofuels and other sustainable energy sources. He highlighted ongoing efforts to develop cleaner fuel alternatives from agricultural waste, particularly rice straw (parali).According to the minister, rice straw is being used to produce bitumen for road construction, while work is also underway to generate aviation fuel from the same raw material.He also stressed the government’s efforts on the ‘Waste to Wealth’ project and the results coming from it in the form of natural gas and fuels.Gadkari further said discussions are in progress to blend a portion of these alternative fuels into existing fuel supplies. He informed that the move will be a part of broader efforts to promote cleaner energy and a more sustainable transportation sector.Gadkari’s remarks come at a time when fluctuations in global crude oil prices and concerns over fuel supplies, amid tensions in West Asia, have renewed focus on alternative energy sources.The Centre has been encouraging the use of domestically produced fuels, including biogas and other biofuels, as part of its broader push towards cleaner and diversified energy options.
