'False campaign going on against ethanol-blended petrol, can you show even one car that has faced issues due to E20 fuel?'

NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that the claims being circulated about the newly introduced E20 petrol in India are false. His remarks came at a time when concerns have been raised about the quality of E20 fuel. Critics have claimed that ethanol-blended petrol reduces fuel efficiency and can damage vehicle engines.

Speaking at the Viksit Bharat Conclave, Gadkari dismissed these concerns. "So far, not a single car has been found to have developed any problem because of E20 petrol. Can anyone point to even one car in the country that has faced issues due to E20 fuel? There is a false campaign against the sale of petrol with higher ethanol content. This is a paid campaign," the minister said.

Gadkari also noted that ethanol-blended petrol is already being used in countries such as Brazil. However, he acknowledged that consumers in those countries have the option to choose between different fuel types, while such a choice is not currently available in India.

He said the government spends around Rs 22 lakh crore every year on fossil fuel imports, including petrol and diesel. According to Gadkari, promoting ethanol made from sugarcane, maize, and rice is aimed at reducing this financial burden and lowering the country's dependence on fossil fuels.