nChief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking approval for establishment of rice based bio-ethanol plant in the state.
Notable, an application of the state is at present pending before the Union Ministry for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in this regard.
Citing that the Chhattisgarh government by including bio-ethanol production in the list of high priority industries informed that it has taken initiatives regarding promotion to establishment of rice based bio ethanol production units in the state, which would produce bio-ethanol from the surplus rice procured by the state.
In the letter, the Prime Minister was also requested to decide the rate of rice based bio ethanol at par with that of sugar/sugar syrup based ethanol. To encourage the sales of rice based bio ethanol, the rate of sale should be attractive, the CM suggested.
Baghel in the letter said the National Bio Fuel Policy 2018 promotes the production of bio-fuels but it was objectionable that as per the guidelines of National Bio fuel Policy 2018, the rice based bio ethanol production units have to seek permission every year from Agriculture Ministry. This provision is practically not viable and hence needs to be eased and made more practical, he said.
