As controversy and pressure over ethanol-blended petrol grows, Union Minister of Road and Transport, Nitin Gadkari has blamed car owners by claiming that an average car owner cannot accurately calculate their vehicle’s fuel efficiency on their own an and suggested that they should rely on tests conducted by authorised dealers.
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The comment came during an an interview on Monday when a journalist said her car’s mileage while driving in city limits had gone down after switching to the mandatory E20 petrol. The journalist said that her 2023 model car, claimed to be compliant with the E20 pertrol, averaged 11 km per liter but had not gone down to 7 km per liter. To this, Gadkari questioned how she calculated the figure.
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Gadkari, who has been backing the ethanol-blending programme, said that accurate fuel-efficiency readings can only be done through manufacturer-authorised testing equipment. “You and I canโt check the mileage. A car’s mileage can only be checked using a company-authorised dealer’s machine,โ he said. This comes days after the Centre accepted the fact that E20 petrol can reduce fuel economy by 3-5 per cent in some vehicles, while defending the polity.
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Meanwhile, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss concerns over E20 petrol, requesting that options for pure and E20 petrol be made available at fuel stations, with lower prices for ethanol-blended petrol.
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In a letter to the PM, Kejriwal said he wanted to explain the technical issues and the feedback he received from people related to the matter during his proposed meeting.Kejriwal said customers should have the choice to buy either pure petrol or E20 petrol at fuel stations.
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“If someone wants pure petrol, they should get that option and those wanting E20 should also have that choice,” he said.Kejriwal said he had written to the prime minister after interacting with people and understanding their concerns regarding E20 petrol.The AAP chief also sought a reduction in E20 petrol prices, saying the blended fuel provides lower mileage compared to regular petrol.
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Kejriwal said the party has started an online petition for citizens to share their experiences with E20 petrol and urged people to share their concerns on mileage and others, he added.
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He appealed to people to sign the petition in large numbers and said all responses collected would be submitted to the prime minister during their meeting.Kejriwal expressed hope that PM Modi would provide him an appointment soon.
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