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The Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transport and Tour Operators Association on Tuesday (July 28) called for a Parliament protest march against the ethanol-blended
policy on August 4 in Delhi, with Association President Sanjay Samrat saying that ethanol petrol will "damage vehicles" in the country. Speaking to ANI, Samrat warned that the rollout of ethanol petrol creates a risk of turning these vehicles into overnight scrap, with lakhs of bikes, private cars, and taxis running on both CNG and petrol across various constituencies.
'Sugarcane Juice' Blended in Petrol
Expressing frustration at rising prices, Samrat said that motorists receive 20 per cent ethanol blended as "sugarcane juice" for every Rs 100 spent at petrol pumps, which has left citizens feeling cheated by this policy.
"Ever since our honourable Nitin Gadkari Sahab became the Transport Minister, we have had to face difficulties; we have been suffering for more than 10 years. Our concerns are being continuously ignored. And he has added a chapter to this such that earlier we were suffering financial and mental losses, and now he has also set up a way to mess with our minds. This sugarcane juice that is being given to us in the name of ethanol, our vehicles will get damaged later, but it messes with our minds," Samrat said.
'Feel Cheated When We Go to Petrol Pump'
He said people feel cheated when they visit petrol pumps, claiming that Rs 100 worth of petrol contains 20% ethanol added in the name of sugarcane juice. He said this leaves people disappointed and makes them feel as though they are not living in an independent India, but in a country governed by a foreign power.
"There are lakhs of bikes in each of their constituencies, lakhs of private cars, and there could be lakhs of taxis that run on both CNG and petrol. So, there is a chance of them becoming scrap; a conspiracy is happening to turn them into scrap, and they don't even flinch. Otherwise, out of the 543, leaving Mr. Gadkari aside, the other 542 should oppose it in Parliament," added Samrat.
Complete Removal of Ethanol Policy
Expressing strong opposition to the mandate, the Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transport and Tour Operators Association has called for the complete removal of the ethanol policy from the country.
Meanwhile, the government on Monday informed Parliament that no assessment has been carried out on the percentage of vehicles in the country that are currently fully compatible with E20 fuel.
Replying to a query which seeks to know whether the government had assessed the percentage of vehicles in the country that are fully compatible with E20 fuel, the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, said no such assessment has been undertaken.
(With inputs from ANI)
