The Rural Development Minister, Kirori Lal Meena, has called on the Biofuel Authority to revise the Rajasthan Biofuel Rules-2019 to incorporate penalties for manufacturers and sellers involved in adulterating biodiesel (B-100) within the state. A senior official from the rural development department confirmed that the department is exploring ways to update the current regulations and introduce new laws to tackle biofuel adulteration. The minister urged officials to draft robust and effective rules at an appropriate level, reported The Times of India.
As per the news report, Meena issued these instructions during a meeting reviewing the activities of Mission Green Rajasthan, the Biofuel Authority, the Barren Land and Pasture Development Board, and Aravali (Association for Rural Advancement through Voluntary Action and Local Involvement). He also emphasized the need to prepare district-specific action plans aimed at greening barren lands and boosting rural incomes by promoting the cultivation of non-edible oil crops such as Jatropha and Pongamia. Furthermore, he called for a joint meeting of the Biofuel Authority and the Barren Land and Pasture Development Board to decide on future strategies.
The minister highlighted the state’s ambitious tree plantation campaign, targeting the planting of 10 crore trees by 2025-26. The rural development, Panchayati Raj, and watershed development and soil conservation departments have collectively been assigned a target of 2 crore trees. So far, over 1.9 crore trees have been planted across more than 50 departments, with significant contributions from the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, rural development, and Panchayati Raj departments, which together have planted nearly 70 lakh trees.
