Supreme Court asks Centre how it will ensure supply for 100 per cent ethanol vehicles

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought to know from the government that if permission has been given to have 100 per cent ethanolrun vehicles then how will the supply be madeOn October 26 the Road Transport Ministry notified changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 allowing flexfuel vehicles that can run on up to E100 nearly pure ethanol E100 fuel allows vehicles to run on nearly pure ethanolOn October 27 Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the Centre has no immediate plan to increase the ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 20 per centWhile hearing pleas concerning ethanol allocation for Ethanol Supply Year ESY 202526 the apex court on Thursday referred to recent media reports on the issueDay before yesterday we saw some newspaper reports wherein it is stated that 100 per cent ethanol driven vehicles are permitted a bench of justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale said Academically we want to know if the permission is given to have 100 percent ethanol run vehicles how will you make the supply it askedResponding to the courts query Attorney General R Venkataramani said That will require large scale manufacturing rearrangementsDuring the hearing the bench stressed on empowering farmers in the country The bench said there was a need to consider the aspect of larger public interest and also look at the issue from the environmental point of viewAnd the third I think I would put is much important from the point of view of the larger populace of the country which is the farmers We have to address the third issue which is how to empower the farmers This is one aspect which nobody is highlighting Justice Sundresh observedVenkataramani said he would address the issue concerning farmers during his arguments in the matterThe bench said We need to empower the common man which is still in the villages One of the advocates appearing in the matter said ethanol promotion would help farmers in some form or the other Another counsel argued that some of these issues have been factored in the policy of the central governmentThe central government policy takes into account the aspect of interest of farmers also the lawyer said The bench posted the matter for hearing next monthFlexfuel vehicles are designed to run on higher ethanol blends such as E85 85 per cent ethanol 15 per cent petrol and E100 near 100 per cent ethanol unlike conventional petrol vehicles currently approved for lower ethanol concentrationsRecently the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said the amendments update the emission certification provisions by expressly including E100 alongside E85 On June 30 the apex court had ordered status quo on a Karnataka High Court direction to enhance ethanol allocation for ESY 202526The top court was hearing a plea filed by an oil marketing company which claimed that the high courts order would destabilise the national policy of 20 per cent ethanol blending for petrolThe high court had directed Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited to consider and decide a representation submitted by a dedicated ethanol manufacturer seeking enhancement of ethanol allocation for ESY 202526The high court had held that dedicated ethanol plants which were established pursuant to government policy and are contractually bound to supply ethanol exclusively to oil marketing companies cannot be denied the benefit of preferential allocation contemplated under the longterm offtake agreementThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever