Hyderabad: Environmental and Health Concerns Raised Over Ethanol Plants in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad, October 24, 2023 - Dr. Babu Rao, a retired senior scientist, has voiced significant concerns regarding the proliferation of ethanol factories in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, highlighting their detrimental effects on both the environment and local farming communities. His critique comes amid growing protests from residents in areas like Nirmal district, where an ethanol plant has been established.
Residents of Dilawarpur in Nirmal district, like Anil Kumar, have been protesting against an ethanol plant due to its adverse health impacts. Murali C. from Chittanur, Narayanpet district, revealed that what was initially described to the community as a rice mill and a jamun fruit garden turned out to be an ethanol production facility.
The plant has reportedly been dumping approximately 20 lakh liters of wastewater into local streams, leading to ecological damage including the death of fish, and health issues for residents. A young boy was hospitalized after bathing in contaminated water, suffering from severe skin rashes. The situation escalated when the factory began discharging chemical waste onto roads, prompting a police lathi-charge during protests on October 21, 2023.
Dr. Rao criticized the government's policy on ethanol production, questioning its benefits for farmers. "The government claims ethanol production will solve farmers' issues, but no ethanol company is currently purchasing rice directly from farmers," he stated. He pointed out that the government procures rice at subsidized rates, which does not directly benefit the farmers as they are not directly selling to ethanol producers.
Data from 2021-22 indicates that only 10% of ethanol was produced from rice supplied by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), with another 5% from maize or spoiled grains. To meet the ambitious target of 740 crore liters by 2025, Dr. Rao calculated that either 16.43 million tonnes of rice or 19.46 million tonnes of maize would be required annually. He questioned the claimed income of Rs 40,600 crore to farmers from this policy, given there are no direct purchases from them.
Furthermore, Dr. Rao highlighted the health risks posed by pollutants released during ethanol production, such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, which can cause immediate and long-term health problems including cancer, asthma, and lung damage. He also raised concerns about the environmental sustainability of shifting towards maize cultivation for ethanol, which could lead to significant land use changes with ecological repercussions.
These issues underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive review of the ethanol policy, focusing on its real impact on farmers, environmental health, and economic sustainability, Dr. Rao concluded.