Karnataka has been gradually opting for non-polluting and renewable bio-fuels with enhanced use in public transport. By M.A. Siraj

The state transport in Karnataka scripted a new turn in its history by launching its first fully bio-fuelled bus early this week (on July 4). The KSRTC bus which left on its maiden passenger service to Chennai from Bengaluru marks the start of a shift towards 100% renewable energy which also results in benefits for the environment. It will not only cost less but would also ease pressure on import of fossil fuels and help farmers earn revenue from infertile lands by growing bio-diesel yielding trees like honge.

The KSRTC operates 8,300 buses daily which consume 583,000 litres of diesel. The BMTC buses serving commuters in Bengaluru consume another 357,000 litres of diesel. The use of bio-fuel would save these undertaking Rs. 5 on each litre they spend on diesel for running the passenger trips. The KSRTC has been running 10 buses since October 2 last year with a 20% share of bio-fuels. Following the success of the pilot project, the State government undertaking will be introducing bio-fuel with a similar share in another 1,700 buses. Sources in KSRTC say the letter of intent for the purpose has been signed.

The two other transport corporations — North East Karnataka Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) serving the Hyderabad-Karnataka region and North West Karnataka Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) of Hubli-Dharwad region, consume another 256,000 litres and 310,000 litres of diesel every day.

Biodiesel promises to be the fuel of the future for transport in India where nearly 150,000 buses are run by state transport undertakings every day. They carry seven crore passengers every day. This number is three times more than the passengers carried by the Indian Railways.

They cumulatively consume 300 crore litres of diesel annually, resulting in massive outflow of foreign exchange on import of either petrol and diesel. Fuel alone accounts for over a third of expenditure by these undertakings.

If even Rs. 5 could be saved on each litre of diesel, the national exchequer can save Rs. 1,500 crore annually which may substantially turnaround their financial health. It may be noted that KSRTC, BMTC and the Maharashtra State Transport Corporations (MSRTC) are the only state road transport undertakings in the country that are profitably run. Other state undertakings are perpetually in the red.

Biodiesel is stated to be biodegradable, non-toxic and free from sulphur, and leaves little carbon footprint for the environment, a bane of Indian cities. India has the dubious distinction of having 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities. Most of this pollution is contributed by urban transport.

Biodiesel has proved to be safer in handling and storing than petrol and diesel and offers the added advantage of recycling used oils, fats and waste products.

The State transport undertakings have maintained consistency in progress towards shifting to bio-fuels, in keeping with the State’s Bio-fuel Policy unveiled in 2009. It had envisaged shift towards biofuels such as ethanol, and oils extracted from pods growing on Honge or Jatropha trees.

While the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, pioneered the introduction of Honge oil as bio-diesel, the KSRTC began to opt for the fuel in a gradual manner. The Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Development and Urban Planning (CiSTUP) of the IISC chipped in with valuable inputs from evaluation and monitoring. Labs in R.V. College of Engineering and JSS College of Engineering are collaborating in evaluating the fuel efficiency, fuel emission and engine performance.

Under Bioenergy Policy 2009, the State government plans to achieve the use of 10% bioenergy with petroleum by the end of 2017, in line with the national planning.

The State seems to be consistent in its progress on the trajectory it has set for itself. The State can perhaps achieve better progress if steps are taken to produce ethanol from sugarcane which it grows in excess of its requirement, often leading to glut.