India's first retrofitted CNG tractor launched; farmers can save Rs 1 lakh

Hyderabad: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday launched India's first retrofitted CNG tractor."Farmer can save more than one lakh rupees annually on fuel costs, which will help them to improve their livelihood," said Gadkari.

The Minister said CNG is a Clean Fuel that has the lowest content of carbon and other pollutants. Gadkari noted that it has zero lead and is non-corrosive, non-dilutive, and non-contaminating which helps in increasing the life of the engine.

"It is cheaper. CNG prices are far more consistent than fluctuating Petrol prices; also the average mileage of CNG vehicles is better than that of Diesel/Petrol driven vehicles. It is safer as CNG tanks come with a tight seal, which reduces the possibility of explosion while refuelling or in the event of a spill," said Gadkari.

The Minister said it is also part of the Waste to Wealth movement, as stubble (Parali), can be used as a raw material for producing Bio-CNG.

Replying to questions on when CNG-run tractors will be available in India, the Minister said the diesel-converted CNG tractor manufactured jointly by Rawmatt Techno Solutions and Tomasetto Achille India, is a part of a pilot project.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that India is 3rd largest energy consumer in the world.

"Energy consumption is going to increase in the country and renewable energy sources will play an important role in this. PNG and CNG supply will reach 85-90 percent of the population in a few years," he said.

Pradhan said that an alternative energy model based on clean sources is developing, and this will help in meeting the country's commitment to COP 21 for the reduction in pollution.