Biomass energy has caught the fancy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Yadav has directed officials to conduct a state-wide survey to ascertain places, where biomass power plants could be established. This would promote green energy and help power-starved UP to tide over the crisis to some extent, said Akhilesh. Stressing on finding cleaner energy sources, he directed officials to speed up the work towards biomass power plants. He observed that such units, if set up across UP, would not only supplement power availability, but conserve environment.

Uttar Pradesh, which has about 4,000 mines of coal, silica, bauxite and granite – mostly in Bundelkhand region, has mandated e-tendering for future allotment of mining leases in the state.

This step is aimed at preventing hitherto rampant illegal mining and ushering transparency in allotment of mining leases. Under the system, lease holder will have to get environment clearance for mining within 6 months if the land area is more than 5 hectares (ha), whereas, in case of lease for mining of area of less than 5 hectares, environment clearance will not be required.

State sector would add 5,300 Mw, central sector 3,245 Mw and private sector 22,232 Mw

To tide over prevailing power crisis in Uttar Pradesh, the Akhilesh Yadav led state government has proposed to add over 33,000 Mw to its total generation capacity in the current 12 th Five Year Plan (2012-17). Of the total 33,602 Mw, the state sector would add 5,300 Mw, central sector 3,245 Mw and private sector 22,232 Mw. Besides, 2,825 Mw has been proposed to be added by other mega power projects.