Giving an impetus to its commitment to increase use of bio-fuel, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to implement a bio-energy policy that will help in curtailing use of fossil fuel as well as help in increasing the income of farmers. The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting here on Tuesday as the government also adopted a resolution to formulate a new MSME promotion policy.

Energy Minister AK Sharma, while briefing mediapersons, said here that the state government was determined to solve the problem of burning agricultural waste (perali) in the fields.

Agricultural waste, agricultural produce market waste, livestock waste, sugar mill waste, urban waste and other organic waste available in abundance will be used in generating bio-fuel.

“The new policy has been formed to finalise the possibilities of setting up bio-energy enterprises in the state by removing the shortcomings of the earlier policies,” Sharma said.

Under the Bio-Energy Enterprises Promotion Programme-2018, 100% exemption was given in stamp duty on land purchase to bio-energy enterprises and 100% reimbursement of SGST for ten years from the date of commencement of production was given.

“The term of the new policy will be five years. Incentives will be given to the bio-energy projects (compressed biogas, bio-coal, bio-ethanol and bio-diesel) to be set up in the state during this period. Under this policy, subsidy will be given on compressed biogas production at the rate of Rs 75 lakh per ton to a maximum of Rs 20 crore. It will be Rs 75,000 per ton on bio-coal production to a maximum of Rs 20 crore, and Rs 3 lakh per kilolitre on the production of biodiesel,” Sharma said.

In another decision, the state cabinet approved the MSME Promotion Policy under which industrial clusters will be set up in every gram sabha where the local artisans will be given financial help as well as a window to start the marketing process.

Besides, the Industrial department has been asked to identify 5 acre land 5 kms from expressways where industrial clusters will be set up as per the requirement of new MSME policy. “The private sector will also be encouraged to set up MSME units and subsidies will also be given to them for this,” Sharma said.

In a landmark decision, the cabinet approved the first tiger reserve of Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh. The government has approved the proposal to notify Ranipur Tiger Reserve under Section 38 (V) of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It spans across 52989.863 hectare, including 29958.863 hectare of buffer area and 23,031 hectare of core area already notified as Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary in Chitrakoot district.

It was also decided to establish Ranipur Tiger Conservation Foundation along with sanctioning of requisite posts. The Ranipur Tiger Reserve area covered by Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests is home to megafauna tigers, leopards, bears, spotted deer, sambhar, chinkara and diverse avifauna, reptilia and other mammals. 

The state cabinet also approved the proposal to digitalise the records of the Department of Stamp and Registration. Till now, only the records till 2017 were being digitalised. Now, the state government has decided to digitalise the records till 2002.

“This decision will bring transparency in government working and the legal cases will be resolved expeditiously,” Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said.

The state cabinet also approved the proposals of the Urban Development department to increase the boundaries of Nagar Palika Parishad of Muzaffarpur and Gonda.