Ethanol Plants in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Spark Controversy and Health Concerns
Hyderabad, October 23, 2023 - Retired senior scientist Dr. Babu Rao has voiced significant concerns regarding the environmental and health impacts of ethanol factories in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. His critique comes amidst ongoing protests by local communities against these facilities.
In Nirmal district, residents have been vociferously opposing an ethanol plant due to its alleged detrimental effects on their health. Anil Kumar, a local from Dilawarpur, highlighted that the community has been protesting for an extended period due to the adverse health impacts they attribute to the plant's operations.
Murali C. from Chittanur, Narayanpet district, shared his experience of deception, where what was initially presented as a rice mill and a jamun fruit garden turned out to be an ethanol production facility. The factory has been accused of environmental pollution, notably dumping approximately 20 lakh litres of untreated wastewater into a local stream, leading to fish deaths and severe health issues among residents, including a case where a young boy was hospitalized due to skin rashes after bathing in contaminated water.
The situation escalated when the factory reportedly discharged chemical waste onto public roads, prompting a strong protest from the residents. The response from the authorities was a lathicharge on October 21, 2023, intensifying the conflict.
Dr. Rao criticized the government's stance that ethanol production benefits farmers. He pointed out that no ethanol companies are directly purchasing rice from farmers. Instead, the government procures rice at subsidized rates, leaving farmers with few selling options. Data from 2021-22 indicates that only a fraction of ethanol production utilized rice from the Food Corporation of India, with the majority coming from maize or spoiled grains.
Dr. Rao raised alarms about the health implications of ethanol manufacturing, which releases harmful gases like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, known to cause irritation, respiratory issues, and potentially severe long-term health conditions including cancer and asthma.
Furthermore, the shift towards maize for ethanol production poses significant questions about land use and ecological sustainability. Dr. Rao warned that increasing maize cultivation for ethanol could lead to considerable ecological degradation.
The controversy surrounding these ethanol plants calls for a comprehensive review of the ethanol policy, focusing not only on its economic benefits but also on its environmental footprint, health impacts, and the actual benefits to farmers. This issue underscores the need for a balanced approach in promoting biofuels while safeguarding public health and environmental integrity.