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The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has managed to help utilise effluent (spent wash) discharged by polluting distilleries in the State for crop production.
Distillery spent wash is the unwanted residual liquid waste generated during alcohol production.
Recently, the board persuaded the Karnataka Brewers and Distillers Association (KBDA) to carry out research and development for use of spent wash for agriculture and provided seed money of Rs 6 lakh.
“The study taken up in two agricultural universities to evolve a practical solution on this problem has met with initial success. Now the pollution board has come out with guidelines for utilisation of distillery effluent for crop production,” Mr A.S. Sadashivaiah, Chairman of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board told Business Line .
“Based on these guidelines, the board is permitting the distilleries to use bio-methanated spent wash maximum up to 30 per cent for one-time controlled land application under the supervision of University of Agricultural Sciences both in Bangalore and Dharwad,” he added.
The pollution board has instructed the distilleries to educate the farmers about the advantages of utilisation of such effluents for agriculture and also have been advised to set up demonstration farms under their supervision or control to highlight the benefits.
Mr Neelakanta Rao R. Jagdale, President of Karnataka Brewers and Distillers Association said, “The association has contributed about Rs 1 crore to carry out research and development for use of spent wash for agriculture.”
“So far about eight distilleries have opted for this initiative and we are working out modalities to bring in others also into this fold,” he added.
This action of KSPCB has given distilleries in Karnataka more options to dispose off spent wash in a eco-friendly manner.
Mr Sadashivaiah said, “The pollution board believes that it will be better to allow distilleries to adopt more than one option for treatment and disposal of effluents to suit the local conditions rather than restricting to a single option.”
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