Indian ministry puts jatropha planting program on hold

In India, the Union Rural Development Ministry Jairam Ramesh has put the Jathropa plantation program on hold. The Energy Research Institute (Teri)  pointed out in a 2010 study that the plantation can threat the food production in the lands. The proposed program was to plant up to 300,000 hectares for biodiesel production, but the minister will wait for cabinet for further decisions and no budget provision has been made for 2012/13.