Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 12 (PTI) Keralam Minister Anoop Jacob on Thursday said the state government would raise concerns with the Centre over the reported proposal to use rice and wheat from buffer stocks for ethanol production.
Speaking to reporters, the Civil Supplies minister said the department had received no confirmed information about the reported proposal and was relying on media reports and informal inputs.
“We have made it clear much earlier that increasing ethanol production should not reach a stage where it affects our food security. We have repeatedly stated this position. At present, the information is based on media reports, but we will certainly convey our concerns to the Centre,” he said.
Jacob said he had informally learnt during recent meetings that there were proposals to use rice and wheat from buffer stocks for ethanol production.
“When buffer stocks are used, it is natural to have concerns about whether it would affect food security. We expect the Centre to intervene appropriately. This is not a concern confined to the state; it is an issue that could affect the entire country. I believe the Centre will be prepared to address it,” he said.
On the ongoing inspection of ethanol content in petrol sold in the state, Jacob said samples had been collected from Wayanad district on Thursday, following similar exercises in Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, among other districts.
The samples had been sent to chemical laboratories for testing, with the results expected within 10 days, he said.
Describing the inspection as an unprecedented exercise, the minister said it had raised certain procedural issues relating to the protocols to be followed.
The department would take stringent measures to prevent any violation of prescribed standards, he added.
Jacob said the government would take strict action against attempts to artificially inflate prices of essential commodities in the state.
“Any attempt to create an artificial price rise will be strongly resisted. If there are instances of hoarding or other such practices, stringent action will be taken,” he said.
Special squads have been constituted to check hoarding and prevent artificial price increases, particularly in the wake of rumours or reports that could trigger panic buying, he said.
The minister said he had specifically directed the Civil Supplies commissioner to deploy the squads for inspections. PTI TBA SSK
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