Paddy straw-based power plant technology introduced

New Delhi, Nov 21: 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.