Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:51pm on 29 Apr 2026,Wednesday India
India's aggressive ethanol blending programme, marketed as a clean energy solution, is silently deepening the nation's water crisis. Producing just one litre of ethanol from rice demands approximately 10,790 litres of water, making it one of the most water-intensive fuel sources imaginable. The government allocated 52 lakh tonnes of rice for ethanol in 2024–25, targeting 90 lakh tonnes in 2025–26. India's total ethanol production capacity stands at 1,822 crore litres, heavily concentrated in already water-stressed states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. NITI Aayog warns groundwater in 21 major cities could hit zero by 2030. Critics note a glaring double standard as farmers are blamed for water depletion, while industries consuming far more escape scrutiny entirely. (PC: Reuters)
