The Government is committed to free Punjab from pollution due to paddy straw burning and every possible effort is a foot for the same. The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) is serious on the issue and is working consistently in this direction.

This is opined by the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, Mr Gurpreet Singh Kangar. He informed that currently 20 million ton paddy straw per year is produced in the State. About 20 to 25 percent of this is being used and the rest is burnt in the fields. While 5-6 tonne biogas/bio CNG / bioethanol can be produced from the stubble being burned in the fields.

He said that seven biomass power plants are already underway in the State but now steps have been taken in the direction of Bio CNG / Bio-Ethanol from paddy straw. The state has entered into an agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and has started work on setting up the plant.

Germany-based company Verbio India Private Limited has signed an MoU regarding making bio-CNG from paddy straw. This company will set up its plant in Bhutalkalan village of Leharagga tehsil of Sangrur district. This project has 100 %FDI. The total cost of this project is approximately Rs.75 crores. This plant will use 300-ton paddy stubble per day and will produce 33.23-tonne bio-CNG daily. Apart from this, 350 tonnes of organic manure will also be produced per day. The company has already purchased 20 acres of land for this project.