Ethanol : There is a price to pay

 The Times of India article regarding the trade-off between sugar and ethanol production highlights a dilemma I have been warning about for years. To me, this is not just an industrial or policy question—it is a matter of basic survival and ethical prioritization.

My View on the Ethanol Policy

When I look at the push for high ethanol blending, I see a fundamental misalignment of priorities. While the government views ethanol as a path to energy security and a way to support sugarcane farmers, I have repeatedly argued that we are sacrificing our most precious resource—water—for the sake of fuel.

• The Water Cost: My research and analysis have consistently pointed to the staggering water footprint of biofuels. I have noted that it takes roughly 1,700 gallons of water to produce just one gallon of ethanol Email - "SHRI TOMARJI - SHRI GADKARIJI / ETHANOL BLENDING TARGET WILL USE UP ALL WATER / THERE CAN BE WATER WARS !" - 2023-10-01. In a country like India, where groundwater tables are dropping rapidly, this is not sustainable.
• Efficiency vs. Illusion: I have highlighted that solar energy is vastly more efficient than biofuel production. Research I've tracked shows that solar energy used to power electric vehicles (EVs) is hundreds of times more efficient in converting sunshine into usable energy than growing sugarcane for ethanol Blog - "Never too late for a Course-Correction" - 2022-05-01.
• The Ethical Dilemma: My position is clear: whereas cars can survive without ethanol, people—especially in rural India—cannot survive without water. Diverting land and massive quantities of groundwater to produce fuel while ignoring potential food shortages or water scarcity is, in my view, a dangerous "Act of Omission" regarding our long-term survival Blog - "“ Ethanol for Cars “ or “ Rice for Hungry “ ?" - 2023-07-01.

I believe it is not too late for a course correction. We must shift our focus away from water-intensive biofuel targets and toward more efficient renewable energy solutions like solar, which do not threaten our food and water security.

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Sources

#	Title	Date	About
1	Never too late for a Course-Correction	2022-05-01	My argument that solar is a far more efficient energy solution than ethanol.
2	“ Ethanol for Cars “ or “ Rice for Hungry “ ?	2023-07-01	My analysis of the ethical cost of using food crops and water for fuel.
3	SHRI TOMARJI - SHRI GADKARIJI / ETHANOL BLENDING TARGET WILL USE UP ALL WATER / THERE CAN BE WATER WARS !	2023-10-01	My direct appeal regarding the water-intensive nature of ethanol targets.
4	DEAR GADKARIJI / I REPEAT MY 5 YEAR OLD REQUEST	2023-10-01	My warning that sugarcane diversion for ethanol threatens our groundwater.