New Delhi, July 8 (IANS): Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar announced on Wednesday that his ministry has allotted Rs. 5 crore for a biomass power plant in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Interacting with the media here, he said support will be provided for the pilot project which will primarily use agricultural residue for power generation.

"Andaman today depends upon diesel for energy... 70 megawatts of energy is produced using diesel which causes pollution. We want to do away with this.

"There is tremendous biomass available in Andaman. We are starting this pilot project of one megawatt and we have given Rs. 5 crore," Javadekar said in a media briefing following the 6th meeting of the National CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) Advisory Council (NCAC).

According to the minister, the NCAC has Rs.250 crore at its disposal and following the meeting, it has decided to allot Rs.162 crore for several environment projects including the Andaman power plant.