Bihar now first state in country to implement ethanol promotion policy

Bihar has become the first state in the country to implement an ethanol promotion policy that would allow investors to directly make ethanol from maize, molasses, broken rice and rotten grains. The state cabinet gave a go-ahead to the policy on Tuesday. The matter was tabled in Bihar Legislature The Central government has already given permission for direct production of ethanol last December in consonance with National Policy of Biofuels, 2018.

An investor would get a 15 per cent government subsidy — a maximum of Rs 5 crore — besides exemption from stamp duty, registration and land conversion fees, electricity duty reimbursement and employment and skill development subsidy as already being given under the state government’s industrial promotion policy.