SATISH HANDA

In order to increase income of cooperative sugar mills under the management of Haryana state government decision has been taken to start production of bio-fuel bricks from sugar cane wastes after milling widely used in industry as fuel. State government Haryana has started pilot project for the same as an experiment at Cooperative Sugar Mill at Kaithal for which amount worth Rs 30 lakh has been spent on installation of machinery and the plant is likely to start commercial production in three months time. Shakti Singh Managing Director   Haryana State Federation of Cooperative Sugar Mills Limited told that in case the project proves beneficial production of bio-fuel bricks will be started in all 10 cooperative sugar mills in the state in order to increase financial gains.

J.P. Dalal State Agriculture Minister Haryana told media persons that decision has been taken to start production of sugar in pouches for supply to hotels and restaurants, jaggery in small pieces to be consumed in residential houses and restaurants. He said according to a survey it has been observed that bio-fuel bricks being not only environmental friendly but also have good demand in industries likely to a profitable project in all existing sugar mills and in case good results are seen in pilot project at Kaithal, production will be started in other nine cooperative sugar mills in the state. According to information, there is good demand for sugarcane waste after milling in sugar mills being sold at Rs 200 each quintal, whereas bio-fuel bricks are sold at the rate ranging between Rs 30 to Rs 40 each kilogram. Dalal said, cooperative sugar mills in the state are also going to produce Ethanol having good demand in chemical based industry.