Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee President and former minister Ajay Rai has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a comprehensive scientific, economic, and public-interest review of India’s ethanol-blended fuel policy, including E20, E85, and E100 fuels.
In his letter, Rai called for greater transparency in policymaking and sought the public release of scientific studies, technical assessments, and long-term impact analyses related to ethanol blending. He argued that the issue concerns the economic security of millions of Indian families, the country’s water resources, food security, environmental sustainability, transportation systems, and public trust in government policies.
Rai stated that the Centre has been rapidly implementing the E20 fuel programme and is also moving toward higher ethanol blends such as E85 and E100. According to him, the policy is not merely a technical shift but a major decision with far-reaching implications for the economy, agriculture, natural resources, and consumers.
Highlighting the concerns of vehicle owners, he noted that India has more than 350 million registered vehicles, most of which are owned by middle-class families, farmers, small traders, taxi operators, and auto-rickshaw drivers. He questioned whether ordinary citizens could be expected to replace their vehicles repeatedly to keep pace with evolving fuel standards.
The Congress leader raised concerns about the future compatibility of vehicles currently marketed as E20-compliant, asking whether they might become unsuitable if the country transitions to E85 or E100 fuels. He said such changes could place a significant financial burden on vehicle owners who typically use their vehicles for 10 to 20 years.
Rai also demanded that all independent scientific studies, testing reports, and long-term engine performance data related to ethanol-blended fuels be made public. He questioned why separate categories such as E20-compatible, Flex Fuel, E85-compatible, and E100-compatible vehicles were necessary if all vehicles were equally suited to ethanol-based fuels.
Referring to technical aspects, Rai argued that ethanol and petrol are chemically different fuels and claimed that ethanol contains less energy per litre than conventional petrol. He said this could potentially affect vehicle mileage and fuel efficiency, an issue that should be transparently examined and communicated to consumers.
The UP Congress chief further questioned the pricing of ethanol-blended petrol. He noted that one of the stated objectives of ethanol blending was to reduce fuel costs and benefit consumers. However, he asked why the savings had not been visibly passed on to the public if ethanol blending had indeed lowered production costs.
Expressing concerns over agriculture and water resources, Rai pointed out that ethanol in India is largely produced from sugarcane derivatives and increasingly from maize. He said both crops require substantial water resources and warned that large-scale ethanol production could have implications for groundwater reserves, agricultural priorities, and food security, especially at a time when several regions of the country are facing water stress.
He also raised the possibility that growing demand for maize-based ethanol could eventually increase dependence on imported agricultural commodities, potentially replacing one form of external dependence with another.
Calling for greater transparency, Rai emphasized that public confidence in policymaking depends not only on fair decisions but also on the perception of fairness. He urged the government to commission an independent scientific, technical, economic, and environmental review of the ethanol programme and to publish all findings related to fuel efficiency, water usage, food security, engine compatibility, and consumer costs.
The Congress leader also suggested that until higher ethanol blends are proven fully suitable for the majority of vehicles, consumers should continue to have access to both conventional petrol and ethanol-blended fuel options. He further sought an independent examination of any potential conflicts of interest related to ethanol policy and called for the publication of a long-term national fuel roadmap.
Rai concluded by stating that if the government considers ethanol-blended fuels completely safe, then responsibility for any certified engine damage should be clearly assigned to vehicle manufacturers, oil companies, or insurance providers, ensuring that the financial burden does not fall solely on consumers.
