Amidst the controversy over E-20 fuel (petrol mixed with ethanol) in the country, now a big relief news is coming out. Amidst the controversy over petrol and ethanol blended petrol, discussions are going on that the government is now seriously considering giving the option of ‘normal petrol’ to the common consumers at petrol pumps. For a long time, the general public and drivers were demanding that they should be given the freedom to choose the fuel for their vehicles.
What did the government accept about the reduction in mileage?
The debate was going on for a long time whether the mileage of vehicles is decreasing with E-20 fuel. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while clarifying the situation on this, has admitted that the energy capacity (calorific value) of ethanol is less than petrol, due to which a drop of 3 to 5 percent in mileage is possible. However, the minister has clarified that the claims of engine failure due to E-20 are just a ‘false narrative’ and rumour. The government argues that this reduces pollution and improves engine performance, but people driving old cars on the roads are complaining of 20 to 30 percent reduction in mileage, which remains the main reason for this controversy.
Will I now get the right to choose petrol?
According to sources, the government is now working on a formula by which the option of normal petrol can be made available again at petrol pumps. However, this decision will not be so easy. The biggest challenge before the oil companies is to install separate tanks, pipelines and dispensers at the petrol pumps, because there are more than 1 lakh petrol pumps in India. If the government provides an alternative to normal petrol, there will be huge cost in creating new machines and a separate supply chain for it. Along with this, deciding the price of both the fuels will also be a big puzzle.
Government’s argument: Why was E-20 brought?
The government clearly says that the purpose of bringing E-20 is not to make petrol cheaper, but to free India from dependence on crude oil imports. According to government data, since 2014 till now, India has saved foreign exchange worth about Rs 1 lakh 97 thousand crore and imported 316 lakh tonnes of crude oil less. Apart from this, more than Rs 1 lakh 66 thousand crore has been paid to the farmers so far through ethanol. According to the government, it has been implemented in a phased manner only after a long scientific investigation with major companies like Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp.
People’s demands and the way forward
In view of the videos going viral on social media and the increasing opposition from the public, the government is no longer on the back foot but is looking towards a ‘solution’. People are asking that if the parts of old vehicles get damaged due to E-20, then who will be responsible for it? Amidst all these questions and concerns, the government is taking opinions from all parties. If the option of normal petrol is available at petrol pumps, it will be the biggest relief for the common man. In the coming days, it will become clear whether the government is really preparing to open a ‘supermarket’ of fuel options for the convenience of the public or not.
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