Gadkari launches India’s first CNG Tractor to make farmers 'Aatmnirbhar'

New Delhi, February 13: Taking another step to make Indian farmers more self-reliant and to double their income by 2022, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday launched India’s first Diesel-converted Compressed Natural Gas CNG Tractor.

 

During the launch Gadkari explains the benefits of the tractor saying, this tractor, can save more than Rs. 1 lakh annually, which will further help them in improving their livelihoods. He said, “The most important benefit for the farmers by this tractor will be to save more than one lakh rupees annually on fuel costs, which will help them to improve their livelihood.”

 

It will help produce more power and will also reduce the overall emissions by 70% in comparison to the diesel-run engine. That indirectly will help farmers to save up to 50 percent on the fuel cost as the current diesel prices are Rs 77.43/liter whereas CNG is only Rs 42/kg,

 

He further informed the test reports that indicate the retrofitted tractor produces more power/equal in comparison to the vehicles running on diesel.

 

He also stressed that CNG is a clean fuel that will help reduce the carbon footprint, saying, "CNG is a clean fuel, as it has the lowest content of carbon and other pollutants. It is economical as it has zero lead and is non-corrosive, non-dilutive, and non-contaminating which helps in increasing the life of the engine and it requires less regular maintenance."

 

 

 

It should be noted that the diesel-converted CNG tractor was co-jointly manufactured by Rawmatt Techno Solutions and Tomasetto Achille India, and was under the pilot project,

 

He further highlighted the safety aspect of the CNG tractors, saying that the tanks were fitted with a tight seal, which reduced the chances of explosion while refueling or in event of a spill. "It is also part of Waste to Wealth movement, as stubble (Parali) can be used as a raw material for producing Bio-CNG which will help the farmers to earn more,” he said.

 

Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Parshottam Rupala, and Gen.(Retd) VK Singh were also present at the launch.