Slipping on E20

The govt's ethanol blending drive is well-intentioned but many are seeing the transition as a leap of faith

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The controversy over E20 ethanol-blended petrol has intensified, with Nitin Gadkari, road transport and highways minister, terming the social media criticism and pushback a "paid campaign" and politically motivated exercise to malign him personally and the government at large. The minister also termed it as "propaganda" sponsored by the "rich and strong" petrol lobby. This sharp assertion, made at two separate auto industry body conventions over the last two days, follows the Supreme Court's recent dismissal of a public interest litigation challenging the roll-out of E20 and demanding a halt or alternatives at petrol pumps.

While the apex court made it clear that the government's policy stands, it also added that consumers should be sufficiently informed about the compatibility of their vehicles with the blended fuel.