Patna, Feb. 23 -- Bihar Industry Minister Dilip Jaiswal informed the Assembly on Monday that the state government is committed to protecting the interests of maize farmers and in this context dialogue with the Central Government for increasing the state's ethanol procurement quota is going on.
Replying to a starred question of MLA Komal Singh, the Minister said that out of the ethanol plants currently operating in the state, 11 have agreements with the government and government oil companies are procuring ethanol from them. At present, 350 million litres (35 crore litres) of ethanol is being procured in Bihar, which is 110 million litres (11 crore litres) less than the quota fixed by the Centre.
He said that a meeting was held with the un...