Raipur, Feb 11 (IANS) About 100 million Jatropha saplings, a bio-fuel source, have been planted during the past three years in Chhattisgarh, the state assembly was told Wednesday.

“The forest department had planted about 100 million jatropha saplings in about 40,000 hectares of land in various districts to help the state emerge as a leading bio-fuel states of the country,” Forest Minister Vikram Usendi told the house.

He said the state government had spent Rs.74 crore (Rs.740 million) on the plantation drive during the past three years.

“The state government has set a target to plant jatropha in at least one million hectares of fallow or barren land by the year 2012,” the minister said.

He said the state was yet to begin commercial production of bio-diesel.