New Delhi: India is considering restricting ‌the amount of sugarcane used for ethanol in the season beginning October to boost sugar output and try to calm record prices, two government and two industry sources said. Reduced rainfall in Maharashtra and Karnataka, India's biggest sugarcane-producing states, has raised concerns about next ​year's sugar output, the sources said, declining to be named because the deliberations are not public. They said ​prioritising sugar supplies over ethanol could help India to avoid sugar imports by boosting domestic ⁠supplies as production falls and a decision on the issue could be made by the end of next ​month. To keep its programme of blending 20% ethanol into petrol on track, the government would need to increase the use of corn and rice for ethanol production to offset the reduced amount from sugar cane. The ​new curbs under consideration are unlikely to significantly hurt the sugar industry because mills are expected to earn more from producing and selling sugar ​than from diverting sugarcane for ethanol, industry officials said.