In order to provide impetus to the country's ethanol blended .petrol programme, the environment ministry has put its green clearance process for grain-based distillery projects producing ethanol on fast track through a special dispensation and has awarded approval to 163 such distilleries across 19 states.
"Under the special dispensation, the grain based distilleries which are used solely for ethanol blending program with zero liquid discharge have been categorised as B2 project, exempting them from Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) and public hearing. Such projects will be apprised at central level by the ministry.
Among states, Madhya Pradesh has got the highest number (23) of ECs followed by Bihar (22), Odisha (13), Chhattisgarh and Haryana (12 each), Maharashtra (11) and Punjab (10). Bihar has, however, got the highest production capacity addition with 4,655 KLPD followed by Madhya Pradesh (3,475 KLPD) and Odisha (2,588 KLPD).
