Government to amend SDF Act

Our Economic Bureau

New Delhi, Nov 27: The Union cabinet decided to amend the provisions of Sugar Development Fund (SDF) Act, 1982 to provide funding for several additional purposes. SDF would be used for helping the sugar mills to go for product diversification like producing ethanol to mix with petrol and diesel for use in automobiles. SDF will also be used to help mills in power cogeneration from bagasse.

The Cabinet also decided to amend the Coal Mining Policy, 1979 to help the state governments and state PSUs in undertaking mining activities in a more liberal manner. Earlier, the state governments and state PSUs were allowed mining in small pockets. It approved the acquisition of two large range crude oil tankers to be purchased by SCI.