The social media campaign against E20 blending is a “paid campaign to politically target me,” said Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. He made these comments while answering questions at the annual convention of the Society of Automobile Manufacturers.
When asked about the concerns surrounding the blending of ethanol into petrol, he said that automobile manufacturers and organizations like the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have shared their findings on the subject.
Nitin Gadkari spoke on paid compaign to target him
Gadkari said, “The way your industry works, so does politics. The social media campaign was paid; it was meant to target me politically. There is no fact in it; everything is clear. Ethanol blending is an import substitute, cost-effective, pollution-free, and indigenous.”
He emphasized that India spends a large amount on importing fossil fuels and questioned whether it is not wise, economically, to reduce fossil fuel imports and invest the savings back into the Indian economy. “We produce ethanol from makka (maize). Farmers have gained Rs 45,000 crore due to this move,” he said.
Discussing the E20 issue from the pollution perspective, he said, “The world agrees that pollution has to be reduced. A report has found that residents of Delhi could lose 10 years of life if this level of pollution continues.”
E20 petrol row
E20 petrol is a fuel blend containing 80 % petrol and 20 % ethanol. While the government argues that E20 blending can reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel imports, vehicle owners claim it has led to reduce fuel efficiency and increased wear and tear, ultimately reducing vehicle lifespan.
The government responded to claims about a significant drop in fuel efficiency, said they are “lost.” Nitin Gadkari explained, “Vehicle mileage is influenced by a variety of factors beyond just fuel type. It consists driving habits, maintenance practices like oil changes and air filter cleanliness, tyre pressure and alignment, and even the load from air conditioning.”
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