Ethanol will empower farmers, drive nation’s progress: Yogi Adityanath

Gorakhpur : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Keyaan Distillery Plant in Sahjanwa on Sunday evening. Extending greetings on the occasion of Ram Navami, he congratulated the people on launching a new industrial venture under the GIDA (Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority) framework. He emphasized that the 30-acre facility will produce ethanol from grains—an initiative poised to benefit the nation and its farmers.

The Chief Minister stated that the plant is not a liquor manufacturing unit but a dedicated ethanol production facility. He explained that ethanol can power vehicles and aircraft as an alternative to petrol and diesel.

Highlighting the economic impact, he noted that India spends Rs 7–8 lakh crore annually on fuel imports. He said, “Producing ethanol from locally sourced agricultural produce will save foreign exchange, boost farmers’ income, and generate employment opportunities.”

The Chief Minister shared that the plant will produce 3.5 lakh litres of ethanol daily, with plans to scale up to 5 lakh litres. It will also manufacture rectified spirit, a key ingredient in modern pharmaceuticals.

CM Yogi highlighted the efforts of the double-engine government over the past eight years in transforming agricultural waste into economic assets. He said, “What was once considered unusable—spoiled grains and excess sugarcane—is fueling a thriving ethanol industry. Currently, Uttar Pradesh produces 177 crore liters of ethanol annually, blended with conventional fuels to reduce dependence on fossil energy.”

He urged farmers to supply broken rice, damaged wheat, straw, and sugarcane to the plant, assuring them of fair compensation. This move will allow farmers to earn even from stubble and other agricultural waste. To be built at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore, the plant will directly employ 2,000 individuals and create indirect employment for an additional 2,000 people.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that Gorakhpur’s GIDA (Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority) struggled to attract investment eight years ago. However, the region has transformed under the current government’s proactive approach. In the past eight years alone, GIDA has attracted investments exceeding Rs 15,000 crore, generating employment for over 50,000 youth.

He added, “Diploma courses and training programs have also been introduced within the industrial area to support skill development. New ventures such as a plastic park, garment park, and flatted factory are in the pipeline, further boosting industrial growth.”

He remarked that today, investors and entrepreneurs have confidence in the safety and potential of investing in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Gorakhpur. GIDA is now seen as a promising destination for industries and startups alike.

The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of sustainable development and emphasized the need to balance industrial growth with environmental conservation.

He called for adopting green energy practices such as zero liquid discharge and solar power. Stressing the responsibility of safeguarding the planet, he drew a parallel between the human body and the environment—stating that just as arteries carry blood in the body, rivers are the lifelines of the Earth. Preserving their cleanliness and continuous flow, he said, is essential for ecological balance.

Before the formal inauguration, CM Yogi flagged off a tanker filled with ethanol, symbolizing the launch of the new distillery’s operations. He also toured the plant, interacted with its employees, and observed its functioning.

He handed over appointment letters to several newly hired youth, including Manisha Pandey, Nishita Srivastava, Ravi Kiran Prasad, Diwakar Singh, and Pankaj Sharma—marking a significant step in job creation and youth empowerment.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister wished Ram Navami to entrepreneur Vinay Kumar Singh, who set up an ethanol plant in the name of Keeyan Distillery in Gorakhpur, his family members and all the employees working in the company. Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, Mayor Manglesh Srivastava, MLAs Pradeep Shukla, Vipin Singh, Fateh Bahadur Singh, Mahendra Pal Singh, Sarwan Nishad, MLC Dr. Dharmendra Singh, District President Janardan Tiwari, Managing Director of Keeyan Distillery Vinay Kumar Singh and other dignitaries were present in the inauguration ceremony.