Chhattisgarh seeks green light to use 400,000 tons of rice for ethanol

In India, the Pioneer newspaper reports the Chhattisgarh has requested again permission to use surplus rice as feedstock for ethanol production after its first request had been denied. The central government has been looking into the possibility of using surplus rice for ethanol production but has come across political resistance from the opposition who feared using the surpluses would endanger food security. Chhattisgarh is seeking permission to use 400,000 metric tons of rice for ethanol.