The Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan has urged states to liberalize restrictions on ethanol supply to facilitate liquidation of sugarcane dues. In a communication to Chief Ministers of major sugarcane growing states, Mr Paswan said blending of ethanol with petrol can be encouraged to improve financial health of sugar sector and finally liquidation of cane dues of farmers. The Minister said that his Ministry has taken several steps to restore financial health of sugar sector. These include assistance as interest free loans for liquidation of cane dues, incentive for export of raw sugar and modifying Ethanol Blending Policy, EBP to facilitate achieving of 5 per cent blend with petrol.