Nitin Gadkari pointed out that India imports fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore, and that ethanol has provided a lifeline to sugarcane farmers and sugar mills, especially since India has a surplus of sugar
Nitin Gadkari said that stakeholders, including the automobile industry, have clarity about the E20 fuel policy. File Pic
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday that ethanol production has helped save India’s sugar industry, and stressed the need to bring new technologies into farming, reported the PTI.
Speaking at an event organised by the Naam Foundation in Maharashtra's Pune district, Nitin Gadkari said that lack of water was the main reason behind farmer suicides in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra.
He praised the work done by the Naam Foundation, led by actors Nana Patekar and Makarand Anaspure, especially in water conservation and supporting children of farmers who died by suicide.
"If water had been available in these areas, farmers wouldn't have been forced to take such extreme steps," Nitin Gadkari said, according to the PTI.
He said experiments in using new farming technologies have already started and must continue.
The Union Minister also pointed out that India imports fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore, and that ethanol has provided a lifeline to sugarcane farmers and sugar mills, especially since India has a surplus of sugar.
Earlier this month, the Congress levelled conflict of interest allegations against Gadkari, claiming he has been "aggressively lobbying" for ethanol production while his two sons are involved in firms that produce ethanol and "benefitted" from government policy. The BJP had rejected the allegations and said the Congress has become like the Aam Aadmi Party which used to "make claims" about having documentary evidence of wrongdoings in its pocket but would have nothing in reality. The Congress party's charges came after the Supreme Court rejected a PIL challenging the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (EBP-20).
The PIL had alleged that millions of motorists were forced to use the fuel not designed for their vehicles.
However, the BJP denied the allegations, saying Congress was acting like the Aam Aadmi Party, making baseless claims without evidence.
Some users on social media claimed that E20 fuel reduced mileage and damaged engine parts. Gadkari responded by saying that the criticism was part of a “paid campaign” against him.
He also said that stakeholders, including the automobile industry, have clarity about the E20 fuel policy.
(with PTI inputs)
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