SP Ganchaudhuri, director of the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) and special secretary to the Power department who heads the corporation, said the Central and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions have recommended preferential tariff for grid-interactive green power, but there are no incentives for independent producers of green power, developers of green buildings and such others.

The corporation is a three-way venture among West Bengal Power Development Corporation, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd, and WBREDA, with each holding a 33.3% stake.

The WBGEDCL is currently preparing a policy on independent green power projects, green buildings and bio fuels, and aims to come out with the policy within a year, Chaudhuri said. The Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management (IISWBM) is helping prepare the guidelines.

The policy would aim at encouraging the use of green energy by real estate developers, civic administration, and common people.

With the prices of petrol and diesel soaring, the state has sharpened its focus on bio fuels and wants a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework in place for jatropha cultivation. Chaudhuri said there had to be a roadmap for promoting jatropha cultivation and the government, besides giving incentives for such cultivation, had to ensure availability of seeds, technology and linkage to the market. “Jatropha cultivation should come under egulatory frame work and WBGEDCL is working on it,” he said.