Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday inaugurated a ₹1,200 crore grain-based distillery plant under the Super Mega Project at the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA).
Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister emphasized the significance of the facility, describing it as more than just a distillery.
"This is not just a Distillery, but an ethanol plant. Ethanol is being brought to use to fuel not just cars, but also aeroplanes. Replacing diesel and petrol with ethanol will save foreign expenditure and also benefit the farmers. In the first phase, 3.50 lakh litres of ethanol will be produced here daily, and this will increase to 5 lakh litres," CM Yogi said.
Highlighting the rise in ethanol production since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval for ethanol manufacturing from surplus sugarcane, the Chief Minister said that the move has drastically scaled up output.
"Ethanol is now being used to save foreign exchange, with plans to power not just cars but also airplanes. India currently spends Rs 7-8 lakh crore on diesel and petrol imports. After Prime Minister Modi took office, he prioritized farmers' welfare, approving ethanol production from surplus sugarcane. This initiative has led to a significant increase in ethanol production in Uttar Pradesh, from 42 lakh liters to 177 crore liters, primarily used for blending with diesel and petrol, thereby saving foreign exchange," CM Yogi added.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the industrial transformation of the GIDA region under the BJP government, saying that it had evolved into a hub of new investments and opportunities.
"This is the same GIDA where no one was willing to set up industries earlier. Over the past 8 years, we've attracted over Rs 15,000 crore in investments, providing jobs to 50,000 youth. Many industries have arrived, and new ones like garment parks are emerging. Many people come to me in Lucknow and express their desire to invest in Gorakhpur and GIDA. This shows that people have now realized that Uttar Pradesh, particularly Gorakhpur, has become a secure destination for investment," CM Yogi said.