INDIA'S FIRST CNG TRACTOR

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For: GS-3: Economy, Environment

CONTEXT:

Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday unveiled India’s CNG-powered tractor and said this will aid in making the farmers Atmanirbhar (self-reliant).

NEWS IN DETAILS:

Diesel tractor brought in 2012 has been converted into CNG-powered one. The model had been rigorously tested for 6 months. Launch in Market: CNG-powered tractor will be launched within 18 months.
MRN Group to Produce CNG Tractors: The Karnataka-based MRN group will convert diesel tractors into CNG tractors.
Cost of converting the engine: From diesel engine tractor into CNG tractor is around Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. This engine will have 10 to 15 years of life.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Reduce Diesel Expenditure worth 1 Lakh: “The CNG tractor will empower farmers to be self-reliant (Atmanirbhar). A farmer has to spend up to Rs 3.5 lakh every year on his diesel-powered tractor. The CNG tractor will reduce expenditure up to 55 per cent.”
It will help farmers increase their income by lowering costs and help in creating job opportunities in rural India.
Less Cost: CNG tractor will be cost-effective.
Environment Friendly: It will help in reducing air pollution. “Waste to wealth”, Nitin Gadkari stressed that the bio-CNG will be produced by converting the stubble.
CNG v. Diesel & Petrol:
- It is cheaper also as CNG prices are far more consistent than fluctuating petrol prices;
- Also the average mileage of CNG vehicles is better than that of diesel/petrol-driven vehicles.
The farmers who currently spend over Rs 77 per litre of diesel can spend as less as Rs 42 per litre of CNG thus saving significant amount and also achieve greater efficiency as CNG tractors’ engine life is very good, pollution-free and they have more pulling capacity than diesel tractors.

SOURCE: Hindustan times

MCQs:

Q. Recently India’s first CNG-powered tractor was launched. Consider the following statements in this context.

The average mileage of CNG vehicles is better than that of diesel/petrol-driven vehicles.
CNG tractors’ engine life is very good, pollution-free and they have more pulling capacity than diesel tractors.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

ANS: C