LAHORE – Punjab Agriculture Minister Ahmed Ali Aulakh said a comprehensive energy roadmap had been evolved to meet agricultural needs through solar energy and biomass and Rs 10b was set aside in provincial budget.

   A plan, he said, is also under consideration for promotion of biogas and attractive subsidy is being given to farmers so that the rural population can meet its energy requirements through biomass. Solar techniques are being included in WB’s drip and spinkle irrigation project to benefit small farmers.
He said it was true that the country was in a serious grip of the energy crisis but the Punjab government had earmarked sufficient funds to build plants to produce electricity in the next fiscal year.  Answering a question, he said, the chief minister has already offered private parties to build their own power plants to mitigate the power crisis.