New Delhi, July 18 (IANS). BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya on Saturday described the central government’s ethanol blending program (E20) as one of India’s most important public policy successes. He said that this initiative has increased the income of farmers, strengthened the country’s energy security and reduced dependence on crude oil imports.
Amit Malviya said in a post on social media platform
He said that achieving the target of 20 percent ethanol blending (E20) is one of the most important policy achievements of India. According to him, this program has simultaneously made a positive impact in many areas like farmers’ welfare, rural development, strengthening of cooperative institutions, energy security and environment protection.
Citing government figures, Malviya said that since the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2014-15, farmers have received an income of about Rs 1.66 lakh crore through this program. At the same time, due to reduction in crude oil imports, the country has saved foreign exchange worth Rs 1.98 lakh crore.
He claimed that due to this initiative, 317 lakh metric tonnes of imported crude oil has been substituted, while 952 lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions have also been reduced.
Amit Malviya said that the ethanol economy has provided an additional source of income for sugar mills, which has improved their cash position and payments to sugarcane farmers are being made faster.
He claimed that 99.5 percent of the dues for the sugarcane season of 2024-25 have already been paid in Uttar Pradesh, which is a big improvement compared to previous years.
He also said that ethanol production has created additional markets for maize farmers, thereby ensuring demand and better prices for their produce. He also clarified that only Food Corporation of India (FCI) surplus rice is being used for ethanol production and no compromise has been made with food safety.
Dismissing the concerns being raised over the impact of E20 fuel on vehicles, Malviya said that ethanol blended fuel has been in use in India for the last two decades and till now no evidence of abnormal wear or corrosion in the engine due to E20 fuel has come to light during the servicing of vehicles.
He said that the ethanol blending program has worked to connect the country’s fuel system with the farmers. This has reduced dependence on imported oil, strengthened the rural economy, improved the financial condition of cooperative sugar mills and also made a significant contribution towards a clean environment.
–IANS
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