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A Parliamentary committee has asked the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to work out a comprehensive plan for achieving the targets of the Ethanol Blended Petrol programme within a stipulated timeframe.
It has also sought a reply on the issue from Ministry within 30 days.
The Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas in an Action Taken report on Ethanol Blended Petrol and Bio Diesel Policy, tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, expressed displeasure at the Oil Ministry’s ‘lackadaisical approach’ to the Ethanol Blended Petrol programme.
The Committee had earlier recommended a comprehensive plan for achieving the targets but expressed displeasure at the Ministry’s reply.
“... the Ministry, in its Action Taken Reply has only stated that it has noted the recommendation without giving any details of the action taken on the recommendation for an effective implementation of the programme. The Committee seriously deprecates such casual attitude of the Ministry in responding to the recommendation of the Committee,” the report stated. Further, the Committee also recommended that an Industry Working Group should be set up to look into the feasibility of production of ethanol from variety of edible and non-edible feedstocks and more funds from the Ministry for research and development in this field.
While the Ministry said it has asked oil marketing companies to set up three pilot projects for ethanol from feedstock other than sugarcane, the Committee said such isolated efforts will yield no result.
“The Committee, therefore reiterate their recommendation and desire that the Ministry should undertake the initiatives by forming an industry working group in cooperation with concerned Ministries/Departments,” the report added.
Even on the bio-diesel policy, the Committee was not satisfied with the Ministry’s reply of oil marketing companies buying bio-diesel conforming to BIS norms at a uniform price decided from time to time.
“The Committee, however, are not satisfied with the reply as it does not spell out any time frame by which the bio-diesel would be commercially available in major centres and how much blending would be achieved at various stages,” the report added.
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