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Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Punjab pushes for biogas plants to tackle stubble burning amid resistance challenges
Patiala: Amid ongoing efforts to curb stubble burning and promote clean energy, Punjab is intensifying the push towards compressed biogas (CBG) production using paddy straw. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), as part of the stubble management plan for the current year, has also submitted a comprehensive plan regarding this. However, the green energy transition is encountering obstacles in rural Punjab, where village-level opposition is emerging as a key challenge. The CBG plants aim to reduce the state's dependence on stubble burning by diverting crop residue to generate biogas. According to data from the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), a total of 14.8 lakh tonnes of paddy straw is projected to be collected by 2025 under ex-situ management efforts. This includes 11.70 lakh tonnes to be handled through 11 operational biomass power projects with a combined capacity of 101.5 MW. Additionally, 60 CBG projects are in the pipeline, with a total capacity of 852.68 tonnes per day (TPD) CBG. Of these, six projects with a capacity of 107.48 TPD are already operational in Khanna, Sangrur, Moga, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, and Hoshiarpur. These are expected to utilise 2.50 lakh tonnes of straw. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Four more projects of 45 TPD are set to become operational by the financial year 2025-26, contributing 0.60 lakh tonnes. The remaining 50 projects, including ventures by the HPCL, GAIL, Reliance, and BPCL, are expected to be commissioned within the next one and a half to two years. To scale up the initiative, PEDA has partnered with the public sector undertakings (PSUs) such as GAIL India Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) under which a total of 22 CBG plants with a combined capacity of 280 TPD are in the pipeline, with the potential to consume 9.4 lakh tonnes of paddy straw annually. The GAIL has been allocated 10 plants with a total capacity of 150 TPD (5 lakh tonnes paddy straw annually). The HPCL will set up 10 plants totalling 100 TPD (3.4 lakh tonnes annually), while the BPCL has been allotted two plants of 15 TPD each (1 lakh tonnes annually). These projects are supported by joint surveys conducted by PEDA and the respective PSUs, with Panchayat land identified for lease to host the facilities. Despite the promising numbers, the project rollout has not been smooth. In Kakrala village of Nabha in Patiala district, a proposed CBG plant was scrapped after the gram sabha unanimously opposed the plan last year. Villagers expressed fears over potential air and water pollution, loss of common land, and unfulfilled promises of local employment. The project was to be set up on 18 acres of village common land, intended to be leased for 33 years to a private firm via PEDA. However, the gram sabha of Kakrala village not only rejected the proposal but also demanded the immediate auction of the land for agricultural use. "Over the last five decades, nearly 80 acres of village land had been diverted to private firms and industrial projects like the Nabha focal point, with no visible benefits to the local population. Currently our village is left with 144 acres of common land, which is mostly cultivated by landless villagers and loss of this land would have resulted in loss of their livelihood," said Bhupinder Singh Kakrala. Kakrala is not an isolated case. Similar resistance has been reported from other districts in Punjab as well, including Bagga Kalan of Ludhiana. Villagers are raising concerns over transparency, long-term environmental impact, and lack of guarantees regarding community benefits. This grassroots resistance presents a policy challenge for the state govt as it seeks to scale up clean energy projects while ensuring rural participation and consent. In Ghungrali village of Ludhiana, a CBG plant remained shut for around six months due to protest. "After six-month shutdown, our plant is re-operational as the matter was resolved. Our plant with 12 TPD capacity started operations in 2023, but currently it's operating at 2 TPD. Besides local employment, we are providing solid and liquid fertiliser, free of cost, to around 25 villages falling in our 15 km radius and potato, maize and paddy farmers are benefiting from it," said plant owner KK Kaushal. "While the potential of CBG plants to reduce stubble burning and generate renewable energy is significant, the success of such projects depends heavily on community trust, inclusive planning, and tangible local benefits. High level committees have been formed to clear the doubts of villagers and persuade them to let the plant come up in Ludhiana as it will benefit the local population and manage the paddy stubble as well," said a PPCB senior official requesting anonymity. As the govt gears up to enhance paddy straw utilisation to 5.5 lakh tonnes per annum in the current financial year by setting up CBG plants, addressing villagers' concerns about land rights, pollution, and employment will be crucial for the sustainable execution of Punjab's bioenergy ambitions. Highlighting concerns of the resisting villagers, environmentalist Col Jasjit Singh Gill said: "Resistance among villagers arises after air, water or soil pollution is recorded by such CBG plants. These plants should be located 4 km away from the periphery of the village and proper effluent treatment plants should be installed and operated. The village panchayat should have access for free-check and raw materials that invite flies or insects should be avoided by plant owners. " MSID:: 123092576 413 |
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Material injury': India slaps 27-63% anti-dumping duties on these goods from China, Taiwan; check details
AI image India has imposed anti-dumping duties ranging from 27% to 63% on imports of plastic processing machines originating from China and Taiwan, following evidence that these goods were being sold in India at unfairly low prices, causing material harm to the domestic industry. The decision was notified by the ministry of finance through a gazette notification, as reported by the news agency ANI. The finance ministry concluded that the dumped imports were inflicting injury on Indian manufacturers, prompting the recommendation for a five-year anti-dumping levy on these products to safeguard local businesses and ensure fair market practices. 'The anti-dumping duty… shall be levied for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from the date of publication of the notification,' the notification said. The duties will be collected in Indian currency and calculated based on the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of the imported goods. Anti-dumping duties are imposed when a country determines that imported goods are priced below their normal value and are harming the local industry. In such cases, the duty helps to bridge the price gap and create a level playing field. This move comes as part of a broader crackdown by India on unfairly priced imports, particularly from China. India has already imposed anti-dumping duties on six Chinese products this month, including herbicide raw material PEDA, pharmaceutical input Acetonitrile, Vitamin A Palmitate, Insoluble Sulphur, Potassium Tertiary Butoxide, and décor paper. The duties, recommended by the directorate general of trade remedies (DGTR), range from $481 per tonne for Acetonitrile to as high as $1,710 per tonne for Potassium Tertiary Butoxide. These actions align with India's strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing while reducing reliance on imports, especially from China. India's trade deficit with China surged to a record $99.2 billion in 2024-25. Exports to China shrank by 14.5% during the year, while imports rose by over 11%, reaching $113.45 billion, according to news agency PTI. India, a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), uses anti-dumping duties as a legitimate tool under the multilateral framework to protect its domestic industries from trade distortions caused by unfair pricing practices. The recent measures underscore the government's commitment to ensuring fair trade, and to boosting indigenous production capacity across sectors where imports have so far dominated. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
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Business Standard
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India imposes anti-dumping duty on four Chinese chemicals this month
India has imposed anti-dumping duty on four Chinese chemicals so far this month to guard domestic players from unfairly priced imports from the neighbouring country. These duties were imposed on -- PEDA (used in herbicide); Acetonitrile (used in pharma sector); Vitamin -A Palmitate; and and Insoluble Sulphur. In separate notifications, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Department of Revenue, said that the duty imposed will be levied for a period of five years on imports of these chemicals. The duties were imposed following recommendations for the same from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), an arm of the commerce ministry. While on PEDA, the duty will range from $1,305.6 to $2017.9 per tonne, a duty of up to $481 per tonne has been imposed on Acetonitrile imported from China, Russia and Taiwan. Similarly, the government has imposed a duty of up to $20.87 per Kg duty on Vitamin -A Palmitate imported from China, European Union and Switzerland; and up to $358 per tonne on import of Insoluble Sulphur, which is used in tyre industry, and imported from China and Japan. Anti-dumping probes are conducted by countries to determine whether domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports. As a countermeasure, they impose these duties under the multilateral regime of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO). Both India and China are members of the multilateral organisations, which deals with global trade norms. The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters. India is taking steps to boost domestic manufacturing and cut imports from China as the country's trade deficit with China widened to $99.2 billion during 2024-25. In the last fiscal, India's exports to China contracted 14.5 per cent to $14.25 billion as against $16.66 billion in 2023-24. The imports, however, rose by 11.52 per cent in 2024-25 to $113.45 billion against $101.73 billion in 2023-24.
Mint
24-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
India imposes anti-dumping duty on THESE Chinese chemicals; Here's how much they are increasing
India has imposed an anti-dumping duty on four Chinese chemicals in June so far so that domestic players with businesses in these areas can be safeguarded from unfairly priced imports from Beijing. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Department of Revenue, in separate notifications that the anti-dumping duty on the import of these four chemicals from China will be imposed for a period of five years. The authorities officially imposed the restrictions after the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), an arm of the commerce ministry, made recommendations earlier to do the same. Also Read | India imposes 12% safeguard duty on steel imports Which chemicals will face anti-dumping duty? India imposed these anti-dumping duties four chemicals, including PEDA (which is used in herbicide); Acetonitrile (which is used in the pharma sector); Vitamin -A Palmitate, and Insoluble Sulphur. What will be the new duties? Here is a list of duties imposed by India on Chinese chemical imports – In case of herbicide chemical PEDA, the anti-dumping duty will range from ₹ 1,305.6 to ₹ 2017.9 per tonne, the government said in its notification. 1,305.6 to 2017.9 per tonne, the government said in its notification. A duty of up to ₹ 481 per tonne has been imposed on Acetonitrile imported from China, Russia and Taiwan, it said. 481 per tonne has been imposed on Acetonitrile imported from China, Russia and Taiwan, it said. Similarly, the government has imposed a duty of up to ₹ 20.87 per kilogram duty on Vitamin -A Palmitate imported from China, European Union and Switzerland. 20.87 per kilogram duty on Vitamin -A Palmitate imported from China, European Union and Switzerland. Lastly, an anti-dumoing futy of up to ₹ 358 per tonne on import of Insoluble Sulphur, which is used in tyre industry, and imported from China and Japan. Anti-dumping probes are conducted by countries to determine whether domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports. As a countermeasure, they impose these duties under the multilateral regime of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO). Both India and China are members of the multilateral organisations, which deals with global trade norms. The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters. India is taking steps to boost domestic manufacturing and cut imports from China as the country's trade deficit with China widened to USD 99.2 billion during 2024-25. In the last fiscal, India's exports to China contracted 14.5 per cent to ₹14.25 billion as against ₹16.66 billion in 2023-24. The imports, however, rose by 11.52 per cent in 2024-25 to ₹113.45 billion against ₹101.73 billion in 2023-24.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India imposes anti-dumping duty on four Chinese chemicals
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India has imposed anti-dumping duty on four Chinese chemicals so far this month to guard domestic players from unfairly priced imports from the neighbouring duties were imposed on -- PEDA (used in herbicide); Acetonitrile (used in pharma sector); Vitamin -A Palmitate; and and Insoluble separate notifications, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Department of Revenue, said that the duty imposed will be levied for a period of five years on imports of these duties were imposed following recommendations for the same from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), an arm of the commerce on PEDA, the duty will range from USD 1,305.6 to USD 2017.9 per tonne, a duty of up to USD 481 per tonne has been imposed on Acetonitrile imported from China, Russia and the government has imposed a duty of up to USD 20.87 per Kg duty on Vitamin -A Palmitate imported from China, European Union and Switzerland; and up to USD 358 per tonne on import of Insoluble Sulphur, which is used in tyre industry, and imported from China and probes are conducted by countries to determine whether domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in cheap a countermeasure, they impose these duties under the multilateral regime of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO). Both India and China are members of the multilateral organisations, which deals with global trade duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and is taking steps to boost domestic manufacturing and cut imports from China as the country's trade deficit with China widened to USD 99.2 billion during the last fiscal, India's exports to China contracted 14.5 per cent to USD 14.25 billion as against USD 16.66 billion in 2023-24. The imports, however, rose by 11.52 per cent in 2024-25 to USD 113.45 billion against USD 101.73 billion in 2023-24.
