India seeks to quell public backlash on ethanol-mixed fuel after 'experiment' remark

NEW DELHI: India’s government on Friday sought to contain a growing backlash against its mandatory use of 20% ethanol-blended petrol, as consumers unhappy about lower fuel efficiency and vehicle performance planned a protest against the policy.

The mandate to use the blend, called E20, came into force last year but is now one of the biggest political flashpoints for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and motorists in the world’s third-biggest car market.

The controversy intensified this week after Attorney General R. Venkataramani told a court hearing that E20 was an “experiment” whose results would only come out next year.

The government denied the remark was ever made, but video of the court hearing showing Venkataramani saying the words has since gone viral on social media.

Venkataramani told Reuters on Friday he used the term “experiment” in the context of the volume of ethanol supplies, not the ethanol petrol policy itself.

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This has done little to quell public anger, with opponents of the policy accusing the government of rushing its rollout.

The government’s press office dismissed the criticism as “wild claims” on Friday, asking people to not “fall for the rage bait”.

Seeking to reassure motorists, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday compared ethanol fuel to its use in motor racing.

“They use it in racing cars also, the acceleration increases. Mileage, yes, it may drop a little,” Puri said.

Plan for protest in New Delhi

Tehseen Poonawalla, a New Delhi-based socialite and Congress party supporter, said he was planning a protest against the E20 policy in New Delhi on Sunday, and had received interest from thousands of people wanting to join in.

Many motorists are frustrated that they no longer have a choice at fuel stations and have seized on the attorney general’s comment to vent their anger on social media.

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Priyank Kharge, a state minister in India’s opposition Congress party, said on X that the E20 policy rollout lacked consultation and that the government “cannot challenge citizens to prove damage when your own data is still pending”.

Hundreds of motorists have posted complaints on X alleging reduced fuel efficiency and increased wear and tear of car parts from E20.

In one video on X viewed over 500,000 times, an agitated motorist who identified himself as Manish Kashyap stands in a workshop with his car saying in the post it needed repairs after being damaged by E20 fuel.

“I have spent a lot of money on this car and paid taxes only to find that after two months my car is not working,” he said.

The government says E20 helps to reduce carbon emissions, cuts crude imports which saves foreign exchange, and supports farm incomes by increasing demand for agricultural feedstocks used in ethanol production.