Nagpur, June 13 -- : union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said efforts are underway to manufacture bitumen for road construction from rice straw (parali), while advocating a transition towards biofuels and cleaner energy alternatives to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel.
Addressing reporters in Nagpur, Gadkari said agricultural residue, particularly rice straw, is being explored for multiple sustainable applications, including the production of road construction material and fuel.
He said research and development work is also progressing to produce aviation fuel from rice straw as part of the government's push for cleaner and renewable energy solutions.
Emphasising the need to cut reliance on conventional fossil fuels, the minis...