Rice industry seeks lifting of ban on biomass

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 6

The All-India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) and Haryana Rice Millers and Dealers Association (HRMDA) have opposed direction of the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) of shutting all industries running with coal and biomass in the NCR between November 4 and 10.

They have urged the EPCA to reconsider it. The direction was issued to deal with the pollution level in Delhi. Vijay Setia, president, AIREA, said they had received the letter and it was a jolt as lakhs of tonnes of paddy was lying in mills, which was yet to be processed.

He said once the paddy reached the rice unit, it needed to be dried with the help of a boiler, which ran with biomass. “If the raw material for rice is not separated from water content within the first few days, fungus can affect it, leading to loss,” he added.

Vinod Goel, state vice-president of the HRMDA, said the millers had been allotted paddy in lakh metric tonnes for milling, which was given on time. He urged the EPCA to lift the ban.