The Narendra Modi Government is keen on promoting bio-fuel ethanol to cut the huge `6 lakh-crore bill on import of crude. The Centre is also keen on making blending of 10 per cent ethanol with petroleum mandatory by to reduce Government’s costs on petrol and diesel.
“This year, the farmers have already supplied 1 crore litre of ethanol, which is absolute alcohol to Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum for blending with fuel. Our farmers can manufacture petrol, diesel and gas for sugarcane,” said Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. He was addressing the valedictory session of an AIMA event.
“Innovation and entrepreneurship are drivers of economic growth and prosperity and can change the face of India,” he added. Giving out statistics, Gadkari said, that India incurs a huge `6 lakh crore annual bill on fuel imports, which is badly impacting economy and by promoting this eco-friendly fuel
“If we are able to even save `1 lakh crore, the country will usher in economic prosperity,” said Gadkari. He said, on pilot run, the first ever ethanol-based public transport bus, manufactured by Sania of Sweden has started running in Nagpur and the carbon-dioxide emissions from the bus will be as low as 90 per cent.
Gadkari said fate of farmers could change in Uttar Pradesh if they start producing the green fuel from its massive sugarcane industry. At present, it is compulsory to blend 5 per cent ethanol with petroleum but the oil marketing companies have achieved only 1.37 per cent. The Government is of the view that farmers can get good price for their sugarcane when there is value addition.
The sugarcane farmers feel that the move will yield better income for farmers, as ethanol is a by-product of sugarcane and will generate huge revenues if it is blended with petrol. “Under rural development his Ministry aims to train 10 lakh people in skill development which in turn would give them employment,” he said.