Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Friday firmly rejected concerns about ethanol-blended petrol, challenging critics to present any concrete evidence of it causing problems in vehicles.
Speaking at the Business Today India@100 Summit, Gadkari said not a single instance of engine trouble linked to ethanol blending had been reported so far. He accused opponents of the policy of spreading misinformation, despite endorsements from key industry bodies.
“Show me one car in the country that has faced an issue because of 20% ethanol-blended petrol,” he said, citing statements from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) that back the fuel’s rollout.
He reiterated that there is no documented case of vehicle malfunction due to ethanol blending, and underlined the broader benefits of the programme, from reducing crude oil imports to cutting down carbon emissions.
Gadkari also pointed to the boost ethanol production has provided to the agricultural sector. He noted that corn, which previously sold for around Rs 1,200 per quintal, now fetches Rs 2,600 due to its demand for ethanol production, directly benefiting farmers.
Calling the initiative a “diversification of agriculture towards energy and power,” Gadkari suggested that some of the criticism could be driven by vested interests. “We are not concerned about such voices. These things are tested, verified, and approved by ARAI. Standards are set only after proper evaluation,” he said.
