Context:
The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was formulated to reduce oil imports, curb carbon emissions, and support farmers via grain based ethanol.
Target Acceleration: Ethanol blending target was advanced by India from 2030 to 2025.
Current Progress: As of 2024, the blend was at 15%, where 1,016 crore litres were required in ethanol to achieve the target for 2025 26.
Environmental and Health Issues
- Pollution from Factories
- Ethanol factories generate hazardous chemicals that are associated with cancer acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, acrolein.
- The emissions created are not accounted for in environmental clearances of factories in Andhra Pradesh.
- Depletion of Water Resources
- The water required for a single grain based ethanol factory would vary between 8 and 12 litres per one litre of ethanol produced.
- Groundwater is largely being extracted, particularly in regions of lean flow rivers such as the Krishna.
- Poor Pollution Control
- Ethanol places factories in the “red category” (high pollution scores of over 60).
- Bypassing public hearings weakens regulatory enforcement.
Agitations in AP with Government Inaction
- Protests continue in Andhra Pradesh (Gummaladoddi, Gandepalli, Arugolanu), where it has been alleged that:
- Drinking water sources are being adversely affected by effluent discharge.
- Pollution control authorities have turned a blind eye to the blatantly polluting factories.
- Lokayukta reports have pointed out the malpractices, yet nothing has been done.
Contradictions in Green Energy Goals
- NITI Aayog Report (20% EBP Impact)
- Reduction of Carbon monoxide: 30% (Cars), 50% (Two Wheelers).
- Environmentalist Counter
- The environmental benefits obtained from blending ethanol may be more than offset by the pollution caused resulting from its production processes.
- Factory owners say that strict pollution control measures, rising in production cost show why they are almost imposing.
Balance Required
- Development vs Sustainability
- Ethanol blending, should not trivialize agriculture, human health, and riparian rights.
- Recommendations for Policy
- Pollution control regulations should be made tighter and their implementation ensured.
- Assessments for Environmental Impact
- It must include audits for emissions in places where the Ethiopian public are to give input on them.
- Sustainable water use for ethanol plants should be enforced.
- Reinstating public hearings will ensure local communities will have a say.
A truly green future will need an integrated view toward renewable energy goals and environmental and agricultural sustainability. Failing to consider these concerns may frustrate the very objectives intended with the EBP programme.
