Gadkari Defends Ethanol Blending, Cites Rs 45,000 Crore Farmer Income Boost
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari defended India's ethanol-blending program against concerns over potential vehicle damage. He challenged critics to provide evidence of vehicles affected by ethanol-blended petrol, citing that major automobile manufacturers had conducted trials with higher ethanol blends without reporting problems.
Gadkari stated that approximately 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 crore two-wheelers have been using ethanol-blended petrol since 2022. He argued that the program aims to reduce India's dependence on imported fossil fuels while creating additional income opportunities for farmers through the use of agricultural produce for energy generation.
The minister highlighted the economic benefits of producing ethanol from crops such as corn, citing additional farmer earnings of up to Rs 45,000 crore in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. He emphasized that innovation, technological advancement, and research will shape future opportunities, with Bihar having a significant role to play.