An ambitious plan to mix ethanol in petrol is being run by the Government of India to reduce the dependence on crude oil imports in the country and to promote environment-friendly energy, under which a target has been set to gradually make E20 (i.e. a mixture of 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent petrol) fuel available at petrol pumps across the country. But a recent shocking and sensational report has created a stir among the drivers and automobile sector across the country. During official and independent investigation, it has been revealed that in many places consumers are being given petrol mixed with E31 i.e. up to 31 percent ethanol instead of E20, flouting the set standards. Since this dangerous mess has come to light, serious questions have started being raised on the functioning of the government oil companies (OMCs) and the common man is feeling cheated, because without any prior information or technical preparation, chemical adulteration to this extent is directly proving to be playing with the public's hard-earned money and their vehicles. There is a big threat to the life of the engine of vehicles, mileage is decreasing and fuel pumps are becoming junk. Experts and automobile engineers say that ethanol in petrol is considered safe only up to a certain amount, because its chemical nature is more corrosive than conventional petrol. The engines, fuel injectors, rubber pipelines and fuel pumps of regular and used vehicles are designed to tolerate only E10 or up to E20 blends. When vehicles' tanks are unknowingly filled with E31 level of high ethanol fuel, the internal parts of the vehicles' engines are rapidly deteriorating due to corrosion. Apart from this, there is a huge decline in the mileage of vehicles, the pickup is becoming weak and complaints of the vehicle suddenly stopping on the way have become common. Vehicle owners have to make trips to service centers to get their cars and bikes repaired and are facing additional financial losses worth thousands of rupees, which there is no one to compensate. Questions are being raised on the lack of transparency and arbitrariness of the oil companies, demand for strict action from the government. After this entire mess came to light, drivers, farmer organizations and consumer protection forums across the country have opened a front against the government oil companies. The question being raised is that if such major changes were being made in the composition of the fuel, then why was it not clearly warned or displayed at the petrol pumps? Launching such excessive mixture in the market without taking the vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) into confidence and without public awareness is a direct violation of the rights of the customers. Experts say that if this is not controlled in time, then crores of vehicles running on the roads of the country will be converted into junk before time. Now it remains to be seen whether the government takes cognizance of this matter and takes any strict action against the guilty oil companies and officials or whether the general public will have to bear this financial and technical loss silently.
