Nagpur: The Minister of Transportation Union Nitin Gadkari, who is a strong ethanol advocate as an alternative for petroleum, now mooting even fly drones with bio-fuel.
The Manas Group, a company run by one of his sons, also makes ethanol as a by-product of sugar mills.
Gadkari, while overcoming a training program for fruit farmers held in the city, said that he had suggested a scheme to the Minister of Agriculture Dadiji Bhuse to provide two drones in a village, which could be used to spray in the fields.
City MP said that drones can cost between RS1.5 to RS2 Lakh if ​​they are run on ethanol and “it can be done easily”.
He recently went to Rahuri at Western Maharashtra.
“There I saw drones flying into the fields.
Usually, the RS8 Lakh cost drone but this is for RS4 Lakh because they ran on a lithium battery.
I suggest running it on a gasoline engine designed for drones and using ethanol instead,” Minister said.
The minister said he would launch an electric tractor in the next 15 days.
He also asked Toyota to make a car running on green hydrogen.
“Some people don’t believe in new things and climb my ideas.
However, I have made something happen,” he said.
Gadkari said he also found a shorter route to Bangladesh where the cargo produced from the country could go to the East neighbors through the Riparian area.
“This is possible after dredging Brahmaputra on the side of Bangladesh.
Items can now directly reach the Pangoan river port in Bangladesh.
Dredging is done when I have shipping services,” he said.
“The request came from Bangladesh and was given a late Sushma Swaraj holiday which was the Minister of External Affairs,” Minister said and added, “This will be half-cost compared to those involved in shipping goods through the sea route.
Congestion on regular routes is also postponed .
“There was a plan to encourage the export of nagpur oranges to Bangladesh.
“The state imposes a high tax on oranges.
I have taken a problem with the minister at home who has agreed to see it,” Minister said.
Recently, said Gadkari, he also facilitated the export of the consignment of the Orange Nagpur Growers Association (Noga) through the Lean phase.