Telangana : Activists demand water audit system for ethanol units in
Activists in Telangana demand water audits for ethanol plants amid concerns of excessive water use, citing reports of 8 liters being used per liter of ethanol instead of the required 4 liters. Allegations of unauthorized groundwater extraction and lack of regulatory oversight have surfaced, despite rules prohibiting ethanol plants from drilling bore wells. Activists also highlight the water-intensive nature of ethanol feedstock crops like rice, sugarcane, and corn. They urge stricter regulations and transparency regarding industrial water usage and fees to address Telangana’s limited water resources.
Hyderabad: Amid ongoing protests against the operations of ethanol plants, activists are calling for the establishment of a water audit system for authorized ethanol facilities in Telangana. Currently, work at the Nirmal ethanol plant has been suspended, while operations at the Narayanpur plant continue. Activists argue that across the country, reportedly plants use 8 litres of water to produce just 1 litre of ethanol, despite requiring only 4 litres. They demand that a similar system be implemented in Telangana if the govt plans to approve other such plants.
The state’s irrigation department allocates water to these industries from various irrigation projects which are either completed or ongoing. Ravi Kanneganti of Rythu Swarjaya Vedika said, “Regulatory bodies are not holding industries accountable for overexploiting water resources. Additionally, the public has no access to information on the fees these companies incur per litre for the supplied water. Both central and state governments need to consider the limited water resources in Telangana before granting permits to ethanol plants.”Although ethanol plants are prohibited from using groundwater, there are reports indicating that some are violating this rule. Ethanol industries are not allowed to drill bore wells or extract groundwater under any circumstances.
However, some companies involved in ethanol production are reportedly drilling deep bore wells and using high-capacity motors to extract groundwater, with little to no regulatory oversight. Furthermore, a large amount of water is required to grow the crops — such as rice, corn, and sugarcane — that serve as the key inputs for ethanol production.
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Source Link : Times Of India
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