CHANDIGARH: In a bid to to make environment "clean, green and pollution free", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the Centre will shortly permit the farmers in Punjab to produce ethanol from maize.

Addressing a rally here, the Prime Minister said "Punjab would be immensely benefitted from the Government of India's decision likely to be taken shortly to permit the farmers to produce Ethanol from Maize".

Since Punjab was a major Maize producing state, it could easily take lead in the promotion of this emerging technology to make environment clean, green and pollution free, Narendra Modi said.

"He had already taken up this issue with few renowned companies to suggest a cost effective technology for the production of ethanol from Maize to enable our farmers' to earn more profits from Maize through value addition," the Prime Minister said.