Haryana gets a new bioenergy policy

Chandigarh: The recent go-ahead by the state government to ‘Haryana Bioenergy Policy 2018’ aims to attract private investment for harnessing the potential of biomass-based power that includes biogas, bio-CNG, bio-manure, bio-fuels etc and to support research and development of new technologies.

The Haryana being an agrarian state has a huge potential of biomass energy with sustainable environmental benefits through techno-economically viable technologies and other innovative technologies etc. The policy will also address the issue of burning of crop residues in fields which not only creates pollution but also affects the soil health. It targets to install projects of 150 MW biomass based power generation or equivalent by 2022.

Under the policy that was accorded approval by the cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Manohar Lal Khattar, agricultural land will be allowed to be used for setting up of these projects. The projects to be installed will not require any Change of Land Use (CLU) approval from Town and Country Planning department/Urban Local Bodies (ULB) department. The land used in biomass projects will also be out of the purview of the Land Ceiling Act of the government.

Hundred percent exemption from payment of fee and stamp duty charges will be allowed for registration of rent/lease/sale deed for the land required for setting up of these projects in B, C and D category blocks as defined in the Haryana Enterprise Promotion Policy 2015. No fee will be charged by the Pollution Control Board for issuing Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) for such project anywhere in the state. However, these projects will be set up as per the prevalent pollution control norms of the government.

For the efficient collection of biomass for the approved projects, reaper, raiker, baler, and trawlers will be provided either on rent or on upfront subsidy as per the schemes of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, in force from time to time. The department and state agriculture universities will also promote organic fertilizers produced from such projects provided they meet the specifications and standards prescribed for the purpose from time to time. The universities shall conduct trials to document the results without charging any cost.

All projects developed under this policy will be treated as ‘Industry’ in terms of an industrial policy of the state and all the incentives available to new industrial projects will be applicable as per industrial policy of the state.

With the new policy in place biomass projects will get a boost which will not only help in pollution free disposal of biomass in a scientific way but also create an additional stream of income for farmers and employment opportunities in the state.

The Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency will be the nodal agency to facilitate these projects and implement this policy.