New Delhi: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday met Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at his residence here and urged him to provide assistance in encouraging the state government's investment promotion policy in the field of bio-fuel.

He urged the union minister to consider establishing a regional headquarters of NMDC at Bastar and demanded that locals of Bastar region should be considered for vacant non- managerial posts. He believes that the Centre will respect the feeling of people of Chhattisgarh and immediately provide approval of the demand to ensure speedy development of Bastar region.

The chief minister demanded that permission for producing bio ethanol from surplus food grains should be given to Chhattisgarh for a minimum of 10 years on the basis of the state government's estimate of producing more paddy than expected. He added that the initiative will attract more investment in the field of bio ethanol.

Mentioning that 'Chhattisgarh is the rice bowl of India', he said rice is grown as the main crop in 43 per cent of the agricultural land in the state. He added that agriculture and related areas have a contribution of more than 20 per cent in the state's GSDP. He further stated that production of paddy in Chhattisgarh in the year 2018-19 was 80.40 lakh tonnes. Out of which, the state's requirement was of 42.40 lakh tonnes, leaving behind surplus of 38 lakh tones for producing bio-fuel.

During the meeting, the chief minister informed the union minister that under the provisions of the Centre's bio fuel policy, 2018, the state government has invited private investments for setting up bio ethanol plants in Chhattisgarh to encourage use of surplus paddyproduction.