Chhattisgarh Affairs
Chhattisgarh should be allowed to produce ethanol from paddy: CM Bhupesh Baghel to Centre
Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel attended the virtual meeting of CMs from all the states of the country.
During this Baghel demanded thatChhattisgarhshould be given permission toproduce ethanol from paddy, requested the Centre to reconsider the decision of not procuring Usna Rice from Chhattisgarh and demanded to return Chhattisgarhs share of coal penalty worth Rs 4140 crore and reduce cess on petrol-diesel.
Chhattisgarh state is known as the ‘rice bowl’, where paddy is produced in abundance. Baghel said that for the last two-three years, the had been seeking the permission to produce bio-ethanol from surplus paddy. The production would benefit the state and the farmers, and it would also save the Foreign Exchange spent by the Centre on import of petroleum products.
MoUs have also been signed with 12 companies for setting up bio-ethanol plant. He also informed that the state has got permission to produce ethanol from sugarcane and maize.
There are about 500 Usna mills in the state with a production capacity of 5 lakh metric tons per month. This decision of Central Government would shut down these mills, leaving the labourers here unemployed.
Baghel also requested conversion of the Revenue Deficit of 15th Finance Commission into a grant. He said that in the financial year 2021-22, 17 states are being provided a grant of Rs One lakh 18 thousand 552 crore.
This grant should be provided on the basis of revenue deficit from the year 2021-22 to 2024-25 to support the Covid-affected economies of the states.
The grant is being given for the losses incurred in the previous years, which does not compensate the loss incurred due to Covid crisis.