New Delhi: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday came out strongly in defence of the government’s ethanol-blending programme, dismissing public concerns and industry scepticism as baseless. Speaking at the Business Today India@100 Summit, Gadkari dared critics to present even one case where ethanol-blended petrol had damaged a vehicle in the country.
“By putting 20% ethanol-blended petrol, has there been any car in the country that has faced issues? Just name one,” Gadkari challenged, underscoring that the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) had both issued statements supporting the rollout. “There is no example of any car facing issues due to ethanol-blended petrol,” he reiterated.
Gadkari argued that the criticism surrounding ethanol blending is largely fuelled by misinformation campaigns and possibly by vested interests in the petroleum sector. “Some people may have vested interest in criticising this, but we do not need to worry about that,” he said, emphasising that rigorous testing by ARAI and ministry-approved standards had ensured product safety.
Highlighting the economic and environmental benefits, the minister pointed out that the ethanol policy directly addresses India’s twin challenges—energy dependency and climate change. “Ethanol blending reduces our crude oil import bill and cuts vehicular emissions, which supports both energy security and our climate goals,” he said.
The minister also stressed the programme’s impact on rural incomes, revealing that farmers were now getting significantly higher prices for crops like corn due to ethanol demand. “Corn was selling at Rs 1,200 per quintal. Now it’s used to make ethanol, and it fetches Rs 2,600 per quintal,” Gadkari said, describing this shift as “a diversification of agriculture towards energy and power.”
While acknowledging that certain lobbying groups may be trying to undermine the initiative, Gadkari stood firm on its long-term benefits. He described ethanol as a win-win policy—reducing foreign exchange outflow, creating rural economic upliftment, and accelerating India’s green energy ambitions.
