Kolkata: West Bengal Public Health Engineering and Labour Minister Bhaskar Bhattacharya has backed ethanol blending, saying the use of domestically produced ethanol can benefit farmers, industry and the wider economy while reducing India’s dependence on fossil fuels.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Bhattacharya said people should have access to facts about ethanol amid what he described as misinformation surrounding ethanol and E20 fuel, Hindustan Samachar reported.
He said ethanol made from domestic agricultural products and by-products could create greater opportunities for farmers and strengthen the domestic industrial sector.
The minister also highlighted the potential of indigenously developed technology for ethanol production to support cleaner alternative fuels and make better use of domestic resources.
According to Bhattacharya, greater use of ethanol could contribute to India’s goal of becoming more self-reliant by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthening domestic energy capabilities.
He urged people to support India’s efforts to develop indigenous energy sources, saying ethanol promotion could benefit the agricultural sector, domestic industry and the country’s energy security at the same time.
His comments come amid an ongoing debate over ethanol blending and E20 petrol, with concerns and discussions centred on energy security, environmental impact, consumers and the automobile sector.
