Ensure adequate molasses output: Par panel to Chemicals dept

A Parliamentary committee today said the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals should ensure enough quantity of molasses, mainly used for alcohol production, is produced and reaches to end-users at reasonable prices.

"The Committee feel that it is incumbent on the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, being the nodal department for issues relating to molasses, to ensure enough quantity of molasses and its availability at reasonable prices for end-users," the standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers, chaired by Gopinath Munde, said in a report on molasses.

Molasses is obtained as a by-product in the process of manufacturing sugar from sugarcane juice and is mainly used in the production of alcohol. Out of the total molasses output in India, almost 85 per cent is used in alcohol production.

Appreciating the initiatives taken by Department of Food and Public Distribution and the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation for improving sugar production, Committee said Chemicals and Fertilisers Department did not take any steps in this regard pretexting that molasses production is dependent upon the output of sugar, which do not fall under its purview.

"The Committee desires that the Department (Chemicals and Fertilisers) to explore feasibility of introducing incentive schemes for molasses producers and take suitable steps accordingly," it said, adding that it should be appraised of the steps taken by the Department in this regard within the next three months.

India had produced 7.7 million tonnes molasses in FY'10, down from 8 million tonnes a year-ago.

The Committee was also of the view that it was the high time that the Government should take suitable 'expeditious' steps to revive sick sugar units in order to ensure optimum utilisation of sugarcane. This would also result in increase in production of sugar, molasses and ethanol.