Chennai: Almost all political parties have come out with sweet promises for the sugarcane farmers in Tamil Nadu, which is battling competitors from Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, where more sugar can be extracted from cane with a recovery rate of a little over 10 per cent.
The BJP went a step ahead of other parties in encouraging sugarcane farmers to contribute towards producing bio-fuel. But more than the poll assurances, the lives of sugarcane growers would be sweet if the promises translate into schemes. “As an alternative to mopping up revenue following the closure of Tasmac outlets, the sugarcane farmers could be encouraged to produce ethanol, which could be mixed with petrol or diesel. This would prevent the use of ethanol for brewing alcohol,” a BJP senior said.
While all other parties have merely assured total prohibition, the BJP was the only party that had put forth an alternative and pragmatic approach to increase the state’s revenue, he added. Rather than operate Tasmac outlets, the state government could take up sand trading to increase the state revenue. Secondly, as the Centre permits 10 % mixing of ethanol with petrol and diesel, the molasses for alcohol could be used to produce bio-fuel.
Further, selling ethanol could help the 12 cooperative sugar mills in the State to recover from the red. “So we have clearly provided alternatives in our manifesto,” BJP national secretary H. Raja who had been instrumental in preparing the party’s manifesto had said during the release of the document.
During her poll campaign, CM and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa has assured to encourage ethanol production, while the DMK has assured a minimum support price of Rs 3,500 a ton from the present Rs 2,850, the PMK has assured Rs 4,000 and the PWA too has generously promised to brighten the lives of cane growers.
With the decision to implement total prohibition either totally or in phases, molasses have to be used for ethanol. For the current season, oil marketing firms have said they would require 20 crore litres ethanol from TN’s mills, said sources.
