NITI Aayog to extend support for methanol production in Assam

Guwahati, Oct. 29 (PTI): Assam government today said NITI Aayog will extend all necessary support for augmenting methanol production of Assam Petrochemicals Limited (APL) by utilising the natural gas available in the state.
According to an official release, NITI Aayog Member VK Saraswat informed this to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during a discussion here.“Sonowal informed Saraswat that the government is working to take advantage of the untapped potential of its natural resources, while utilising unconventional energy sources such as methanol production as a substitute for transportation and cooking fuel,” it added.
The Chief Minister also stated that disposing municipal solid waste as a major cause of concern for the government and sought support from NITI Aayog to utilize the same to convert into an alternate energy source.
Saraswat apprised Sonowal that there is potentiality of methanol production in Assam and its huge coal reserves can be extensively used for producing methanol.He also highlighted different sources such as natural gas, CO2, Biomass, Municipal Solid Waste, kitchen waste and wood for deriving methanol, which are available in good quantity in the state.
“Oil import is a major concern for India and its demand is gradually rising. This has significantly contributed to the country’s import bill. As a means of energy security and clean fuel, methanol can replace the traditional energy sources and reduce import and pollution,” Saraswat said.Stating that augmentation of methanol production capacity of APL would immensely boost the local economy, he said NITI Ayog would closely work with the company to utilize the stranded natural gas for producing methanol.
The NITI Aayog member also requested the Chief Minister for extending support to augment methanol production capacity of APL along with setting up a Dimethyl Ether (DME) plant and methanol operated cooking gas stove plant in the state.
Sonowal expressed satisfaction over the proposals put forth by Saraswat and assured him that the state government would work closely with the Aayog for preparing a roadmap for exploiting opportunities for enhanced methanol production in Assam.
Parliamentary committee discusses flood problem with CM
A Parliamentary committee today met Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and discussed the perennial flood problem of the state to find remedial measures.The nine-member Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation was led by its chairman Dilip Gandhi and met Sonowal in the state capital.
“The committee discussed about the state’s perennial flood and erosion problem with the CM and informed him that they will interact with different stakeholders of the state on issues relating to the problem,” an official release said.
Sonowal informed the committee that flood and erosion are long standing issues of the state and have severely affected the state’s economy over the years.
“The problem of flood and erosion is getting worse with every passing year due to rampant felling of tress and siltation of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers as well as their tributaries,” he added.The Government is working on to increase the green cover of the state and has launched initiatives for planting 10 crore samplings in the state, Sonowal said.