Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday lauded the efforts of Pune-based Praj Industries for its contribution to biofuel generation and said the sector suffered due to the lack of a policy during the UPA-led govt's tenure. It was only after NDA formed govt in 2014 that did India start achieving 20% ethanol blending with petrol that could help save crores of rupees in foreign exchange, he said.
"The period from 2009 to 2014 was a struggle not only for Praj Industries but for the entire country. Before that, during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's govt, he formed a committee to study ethanol blending and a decision was made for 5% blending with petrol. However, the subsequent govt failed to implement the decision effectively," he said in Pune.
The CM further said whenever the demand to increase the ethanol blending percentage was raised (during the UPA tenure), some people would claim that a developing country like India could not afford it by compromising food security.
"The scenario changed after 2014 when the NDA govt, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, brought changes in the policy to increase the percentage. The country has achieved 20% ethanol blending due to which India is saving crores of rupees in foreign exchange, which we would have to spend on importing fuel," Fadnavis said at an event organised to release a book written by the founder president of Praj Industries, Pramod Chaudhari.
