‘Paid campaign’: Nitin Gadkari addresses flak on E20 rollout; calls it ‘politically motivated’

Nitin Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that the social media campaign against E20 fuel was paid for and politically motivated, with the aim of targeting him. He added that automobile manufacturers, SIAM, and the Supreme Court had already given clarity on the use of blended fuel.Speaking at the SIAM Annual Convention, Gadkari described E20 fuel as an import substitute that is cost-effective, indigenous, and reduces pollution. “Rs 22 lakh crore worth fossil fuel is being imported. The Prime Minister wants of producing in India,” he said, adding that the programme could add Rs 22 lakh crore to the Indian economy.He said ethanol production from corn had benefited farmers with Rs 45,000 crore. “The rate of per quintal of corn has risen from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,800,” Gadkari said. He added that this year, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had produced three times more corn and that India also had a surplus of rice and wheat. “The way your industry works, so does politics. The social media campaign was paid; it was to target me politically. There is no fact in it; everything is clear. (Ethanol blending is) import substitute, cost-effective, pollution-free, and indigenous,” the Union minister said.Gadkari urged automakers to focus on vehicles that run on alternative fuels. He said this shift would help cut down emissions and also give growth opportunities for the industry in both domestic and export markets. “Transport sector contributes to 40 per cent of air pollution. A KPMG report said that 81 per cent of goods movement happens through roads,” he said.The Union minister also noted that fossil fuel imports will continue to rise even after switching to electric vehicles due to increasing demand. Gadkari also thanked the automobile industry for moving from BS-4 to BS-6 engines, and said the government would maintain international standards by adopting BS-7 soon.Currently, Indian vehicles can run on E20 petrol with minor changes to the engine to prevent corrosion and other issues. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol. Ethanol, which can be produced from sugarcane, broken rice, and other agricultural products, is expected to help reduce India’s dependence on foreign oil, as per a report by news agency PTI. India is currently the world’s third-largest oil consumer and imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making it vulnerable to geopolitical vagaries that can impact crude prices.