India's Transport Minister Defends Ethanol‑Blended Petrol Amid Vehicle Damage Claims
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari challenged critics to produce evidence of any vehicle damage caused by ethanol‑blended petrol, noting that about 4 crore four‑wheelers and 20 crore two‑wheelers have been using the blend since 2022. He said leading automobile manufacturers have already tested vehicles with higher ethanol mixes, including some capable of running on 100% ethanol. Gadkari also pointed to the programme’s goal of turning farmers into energy producers rather than solely food producers.1
The ethanol‑blending initiative is intended to diversify farm income, with ethanol production from crops such as corn generating up to Rs 45,000 crore in additional earnings for farmers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Gadkari highlighted that agricultural waste could also be used to produce aviation fuel, linking the fuel policy to broader aviation fuel considerations.1