(i) Mandatory Packaging in Jute Materials: The Cabinet has approved that 100% of the food grains and 20% of the sugar shall be mandatorily packed in diversified jute bags. This would benefit farmers and workers in the Eastern and North Eastern regions particularly in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.
(ii) Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)–Phase II & Phase III: The Cabinet has approved the DRIP Phase II & Phase III with the financial assistance of the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to improve the safety and operational performance of selected dams across the whole country, along with institutional strengthening with system wide management approach. The programme would improve the safety and operational performance of selected 736 dams across the country. This project worth is Rs 10,211 crore and will be implemented from April 2021-March 2031.
(iii) Mechanism for procurement of ethanol by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies under Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme: The Cabinet has approved fixing higher ethanol price derived from different sugarcane based raw materials under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP).
This programme is for the forthcoming sugar season 2020-21 during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY)2020-21 from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021. All distilleries will be able to take benefit of the scheme and large number of them are expected to supply ethanol for the EBP programme. Remunerative price to ethanol suppliers will help in reduction of cane farmer’s arrears, in the process contributing to minimizing difficulty of sugarcane farmers.
