All-India Distillers' Association has declined to adopt the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines for co-processing distillery effluent with cement, power or steel plants, citing logistics and lack of transparent pricing mechanism.

“Lately the CPCB has come out with suggestions and guidelines for co-processing distillery effluent by concentrating it up to 50-60 per cent by taking it to cement, power or steel plants for complete incineration in their kilns,” Mr B.K. Murkute, President, All India Distillers' Association, told Business Line .

“Through initial experience we find many problems in adopting this process; primarily non-availability of cement plants, power plants in sufficient numbers in the close proximity of distilleries,” he added.

The association also said in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra it was not feasible for co-processing such large quantities for spent wash from all the distilleries by a small number of plants in those States.

In addition, the investment and cost of evaporation and concentration, up to 50 per cent, by distilleries is very high and exorbitant and a large number of distilleries cannot afford it.

According to Mr V.N. Raina, Director-General, All India Distillers' Association, “In addition to additional investments, cost of freight to cement or power plants makes the total process a non starter.”

“However, the industry is apprised of all the problems and is still in the process of finding out ways to tackle these problems,” he said.

Although the industry is keen to adopt this process it is yet to find a workable and affordable alternative solution, he added.

Mr Neelakanta Rao R. Jagdale, President of Karnataka Brewers and Distillers Association, said distilleries in other States can adopt the Karnataka model of bio-methanisation followed by composting.

“This model is a win-win for both the industry and farmers and can bring in additional income to distilleries,” he added.

>anil.u@thehindu.co.in

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