Raipur, 22 October 2020. The Department of Commerce and Industry of the Government of Chhattisgarh has implemented a new industrial policy from November 1, 2019 to 2024 to speed up industrial development in the state. The production of bio-fuel based bio-fuel based on paddy and sugarcane has been specially included in the higher priority category with a view to enable the agricultural producers to get the entire price locally. With this, with the creation of additional paddy available in the state, sugarcane and bio-ethanol, the state of Chhattisgarh will now be established as a bio-ethanol producing state and the economic condition of farmers will be strengthened.
Under the new industrial policy of the state, the local residents of the state will get 70 percent unskilled in the skilled category and 40 percent in the managerial category in the enterprises required to be set up in the state. It has been decided by the Government of Chhattisgarh to extend the time for signing of MOUs for installation of bio-ethanol from 6 months to 18 months. Special incentive package has also been approved by the state government for the establishment of bio-ethanol production units under the new industrial policy Thamechawam Chavaspabal. Under this, it has been decided to allow the establishment of production units in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode in a special incentive package. Cooperative sugar factories in Kawardha, Pandaria, Balod and Ambikapur, PPP Theoretical consent to set up an ethanol plant in mode is provided.
Out of the paddy being procured in the state, after the requirement of Public Distribution System, about 6 lakh metric tonnes of paddy can be used for the production of ethanol. Keeping in view the proper utilization of this surplus paddy in place of destruction of this surplus paddy by the Government of Chhattisgarh, through the notification 30 September 2019, the establishment of bio-refinery industry for production of ethanol biofuels on the condition of compulsory purchase from Markfed is included in priority category industries has been done. According to the intention of the State Government, the Department of Industries has issued a Interest of Investment (EOI) to invite investment in this sector. Many interested investors have submitted their proposals on EOI. Action is underway to set up these plants.
As a result of the efforts of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, the Central Government has given permission to manufacture ethanol from surplus rice of FCI. The rate of ethanol production from surplus rice has been set at 54 rupees 87 paise per liter. The Chief Minister of the state Shri Baghel has thanked the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for this decision taken in the interest of the farmers, along with the Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has also written a letter to the Prime Minister of the country that the surplus paddy purchased from the farmers of the state Permission should be granted to direct ethanol plants to produce biofuels. With this, farmers will be able to directly sell paddy to ethanol plants in the state. Permission to produce ethanol directly from surplus paddy will be very helpful for the economic progress of the farmers of the state.
