Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that he has approved the file of rules for legalizing 100 percent ethanol fuel. He says that this will help in reducing the country’s dependence on imports. “Last night at 8 pm, I signed the file to make rules for 100 per cent ethanol and give it a legal process,” Gadkari said at a press conference to commemorate 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Referring to India’s import dependence on fossil fuels, Gadkari said ethanol will emerge as a viable alternative to petrol and will help in reducing the import burden of Rs 22 lakh crore. He said, “The country has imports worth Rs 22 lakh crore. Due to the resolution we have taken to reduce this import, gradually gas will also be produced in the country. Alternatives to petrol and diesel will also be ready.”
Flex-fuel technology will soon come in two-wheelers too
Referring to Maruti Suzuki’s participation in the launch event of flex-fuel WagonR running on 100 per cent ethanol, Gadkari said that this technology will be widely used in two-wheelers in the future and many companies will soon adopt it.
He said, “I am happy to share that I got the opportunity to launch Maruti Suzuki WagonR running on 100 percent ethanol. Out of the five motorcycles that were launched, three are from Hero MotoCorp and two motorcycles of Hero have already been launched on 100 percent ethanol.”
Misinformation spread about ethanol: Gadkari
He further said, “In the next two months, companies like Toyota, Suzuki and Hyundai will also launch vehicles that will run completely on 100 percent ethanol.” Referring to his efforts to promote ethanol blending in fuel, Gadkari said initially he faced opposition and misinformation was also spread on the subject.
He said, “When I used to talk about this dream, people would laugh. Some friends would also criticize it. Let me tell you an interesting story of how efforts were made to defame ethanol.” Referring to an incident, Gadkari said, “A man called me and said that his jeep had broken down. When he took him to the mechanic, the mechanic said that the car had broken down due to the addition of ethanol. I asked him whether his car runs on petrol or diesel. He said diesel. Then I said, ‘We do not put ethanol in diesel, then how did it get broken down?’ In this way several attempts were made to spread misinformation.”
Mentioned about development works in Nagpur
On June 4, Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Nitin Gadkari participated in the launch program of Maruti Suzuki’s flex-fuel car. Referring to the 12 years of governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Gadkari said many important projects have been developed in various sectors.
He said, “Thanks to the double engine government, extensive work has been done in various sectors in Nagpur. These include projects like Oxygen Park and Bird Park and we are also developing an adventure park. The first phase of the metro has been completed and now the detailed project report (DPR) for the third phase is being prepared. Key institutions like AIIMS Nagpur, IIM, National Law University and IIIT Butibori have been set up.”