In view of curbing vehicular emission and protect environment, Biodiesel Association of India (BDAI), apex industry body for bio-diesel, has recently filed a petition at National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The legal action, on the part of BDAI, comes after repeated memorandums, representations and pleas to the Central and States governments for various policy and taxation related matters for promoting green fuel Blending and implementation of the pending national policy on bio-fuels for reduction in particulate emission from heavy vehicles/Industry in the country.

As per the Association, the Biodiesel blends would reduce vehicular emission and protect environment. In its letters and representations to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and State governments, the BDAI had urged the governments for removing various policy and taxation hurdles in implementing the national biodiesel blending programme.

Confirming the legal action in form of a petition to NGT, Sandeep Chaturvedi, President, BDAI emphasized, "The states are required to declare a promotional VAT rate for Biodiesel blending. Biodiesel being a green fuel should not be taxed at par with High Speed Diesel (HSD) after blending."

He further added that "the industry is geared up to deliver 3mn tons Biodiesel by 2019 and this will provide half million direct jobs, one million jobs to ancillaries."

(Continued on the next page)