Himachal Pradesh to Bar New Ethanol Plants over Water and Pollution Fears
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Himachal Pradesh will not approve any new ethanol plants, the state government has announced, citing heavy water consumption and the risk of environmental pollution.
Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan made the announcement in the state Assembly on Thursday, responding to a Calling Attention Motion moved by Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Singh Bawa on air and water pollution.
Chauhan said ethanol plants can consume between 500,000 and 1 million litres of water a day, making them unsuitable for Himachal Pradesh, where water resources are under increasing pressure. He added that such units also carry risks of air, surface-water and groundwater pollution.
The move fits into a wider government push to discourage industries with heavy resource demands or a significant environmental footprint. Chauhan said any business consuming excessive water or electricity, or generating substantial pollution, would not receive approval going forward.
Existing Ethanol Plant in Nalagarh under Scrutiny
The announcement comes against the backdrop of complaints over an existing ethanol plant in Nalagarh, where residents have complained of foul odour and pollution. Bawa raised the matter in the Assembly, highlighting the difficulties faced by people living near the facility.
The government said an immediate shutdown of the existing plant would not be feasible. It said it would instead work towards a long-term solution, including identifying an alternative site to relocate the unit.
State Eyes Curbs on Power-Hungry Industries
Himachal Pradesh is also looking to restrict other industries that strain its electricity supply or produce hazardous waste. Chauhan pointed to steel reinforcement bar units set up under the Centre's industrial package, which he said consume between 50 MW and 100 MW of power each, while the state does not have sufficient power capacity to support such energy-intensive industries.
The approach aligns with the government's broader industrial policy, which favours green industries, food processing and employment-intensive manufacturing while discouraging sectors with high water and power needs and those considered environmentally harmful.
