Bathinda, July 19 -- After a two-year delay, the Bathinda-based Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) bio-refinery-a first-of-its-kind project in India to tackle paddy stubble burning in Punjab-is set to be operational by October.

Officials familiar with the progress said 97% of the project work was complete, and the remaining work will be finished by the time rice harvesting began in November.

Bathinda deputy commissioner Rajesh Dhiman said on Thursday that the plant will procure 50,000 metric tonnes of rice biomass during the current kharif harvest season.

"We have included the bio-refinery in this season's rice stubble management plan after the project authorities assured the administration they would collect biomass. The a...