Biofuels policy gets govt nod

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the implementation of the national policy on biofuels. It also approved setting up a national biofuel coordination committee, to be headed by the prime minister, and a biofuel steering committee, which will be headed by the Cabinet secretary. However, details like the level of blending and the procurement price have not been made public yet.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which also met, approved a change in the funding pattern for the north-east states for the schemes of the Department of Rural Development.

These schemes include the Gram Swarozgar Yojana, the Indira Awaas Yojana and the District Rural Development Agency.

The CCEA also approved the implementation of a scheme for setting up 10 mega food parks. The pattern of assistance (grant-in-aid) is 50 per cent of the project cost in general areas and 75 per cent in the North-East.