Ethanol production through sugar could boost the economy: Nitin Gadkari

While speaking at BioEnergy Summit 2019 on Monday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the ethanol production through sugar could boost the economy of sugarcane-producing states. He requested the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to prepare a model to allow them to set up a 5 to 7-acre plant in sugar mills which also produce ethanol.

New Delhi:Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while speaking on the problem faced by the sugarcane industry at the BioEnergy Summit 2019 today, said that there are 180 Lok Sabha seats in the country where it is difficult to win if sugarcane money is not available.

Nitin Gadkari said, "Most of the sugar mills of the country are closed. Condition of these sugar mills is such that they are not getting finances. I want to proceed for a Cabinet note. He requested the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to prepare a model to allow them to set up a 5 to 7-acre plant in sugar mills which also produce ethanol."

Gadkari said there was an agreement with multilateral banks like KfW for low-cost funds green energy.

He said ethanol production through sugar could boost the economy of sugarcane-producing states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana.

"There are 180 Lok Sabha seats where it is difficult to win if we do not get sugarcane money" he added.

Nitin Gadkari also said that the ethanol economy has the potential to reach Rs 1 lakh crore from about Rs 25,000 crore and can reduce the annual Rs 7 lakh crore crude imports.

Last week, Gadkari said he has cleared a Cabinet note on the proposed vehicle scrappage policy, which has been approved by the finance ministry as well.