New Delhi, 11 September (IANS). Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday retaliated on the politics-inspired paid social media campaign against the government’s Athanol-Melth Petrol Program.
Union Minister Gadkari criticized the ‘paid’ social media campaign against ethanol-mixed petrol.
At the annual conference of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Union Minister Gadkari said that all Tests have confirmed that 20 percent of Ethanol-Mishrit (E20) has no problem with petrol.
The Union Minister said that the production of ethanol from sugarcane, maize and rice has increased the prices of these crops, which has increased the income of farmers.
He said that in the case of maize alone, farmers have earned Rs 45,000 crore due to its increasing demand and increase in crop price after getting permission to use maize as input in ethanol production.
The Union Minister said that there has been a decrease in pollution due to ethanol-deeds and the issue was also raised in the G20 conference, which shows that awareness of this success has spread all over the world.
Union Minister Gadkari further said that the Supreme Court has also dismissed petitions challenging the validity and security of E20 fuel.
The Supreme Court recently rejected a PIL against the E20 mixture.
The petition claimed that most of the vehicles on Indian roads are not favorable to the E20 fuel, which increases the risk of material malfunction, safety threats, reduction in mileage and rejecting insurance claims.
Rejecting this petition, the Supreme Court supported the government’s stand, which highlighted the benefits of sugarcane farmers and the decrease in the country’s oil imports as a result of the E20 program.
The Union Minister said that air pollution is one of the biggest challenges in the country. Air pollution is also the reason for increasing health problems. The transport sector performs 40 percent air pollution.
He said that recent fears regarding engine damage and warranty problems have proved to be false.
“All test agencies have confirmed that there is no problem in the implementation,” he said.
Union Minister Gadkari urged the auto industry to exempt the benefit of scraping policy to consumers by exempting the purchase of new cars. He said that this will reduce pollution and benefit auto manufacturers as sales will increase.
-IANS
SKT/
