K’taka govt. to set up biodiesel retail outlets to promote green fuel usage

Vartha Bharati | 05-03-2025 | 06:22:00 IST

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is set to establish biodiesel retail outlets across the state to encourage the use of green fuel. The initiative was discussed in a meeting between Karnataka State Bioenergy Development Board (KSBDB) Chairman S. E. Sudheendra and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, and Legal Metrology K. H. Muniyappa at Vidhana Soudha.

During the meeting, Sudheendra highlighted that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had permitted the sale of biodiesel through retail outlets since 2019.

He informed the minister that KSBDB has been actively implementing bioenergy projects across the state and that the establishment of biodiesel outlets would contribute to the National Mission of promoting B-100 biodiesel in vehicles. He also conveyed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s keen interest in boosting the bioenergy sector in Karnataka.

The chairman further mentioned the board’s efforts in developing a new Karnataka State Bioenergy Policy, aimed at scaling up and commercializing biofuel activities.

The policy is being formulated under the guidance of Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge.

Minister Muniyappa responded positively to the proposal and directed senior officials to take immediate steps for issuing the necessary licenses for the retail outlets.

The meeting was attended by Food and Civil Supplies Principal Secretary Manoj Jain (IAS), Commissioner Vasireddi Vijaya Jyothsna (IAS), KSBDB Managing Director Shiva Shankar L., DCF Lohith B. R., Project Consultant Dr. Dayananda G. N., and other senior officials.

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Rajasthan: ACB court sends former IAS Subodh Agarwal to 2-day police remand in JJM scam

13-04-2026 ¦ 13-04-2026 IST

Photo: PTI

Jaipur (PTI): Retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal, arrested in connection with the alleged Rs 960-crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam, was produced before an ACB court on Monday, which sent him to two days' police remand.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau had sought a three-day remand for further questioning in the matter, but the court granted two days' custody.

The order was passed by the ACB Court-1.

A team from the ACB arrested Agarwal on Thursday in connection with the multi-crore Jal Jeevan Mission corruption case.

He was sent to a three-day police remand on Friday. On completion of the remand period, the ACB produced him in court.

Agarwal was serving as the additional chief secretary of the public health engineering department when the alleged scam took place.

Some firms had allegedly secured tenders by submitting forged completion certificates in connivance with officers. Last month, the ACB arrested nine persons, including senior engineers and retired officials, in connection with the scam. Earlier, the ACB had arrested contractors.