Economic Advisor’s ‘bring back E10’ advice puts in question govt’s oil policy
The opposition parties are using Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran’s suggestion that the ‘E10 Petrol should be brought back’ to cast doubt over the Narendra Modi government’s oil policy
The opposition parties are using Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran’s suggestion that the ‘E10 Petrol should be brought back’ to cast doubt over the Narendra Modi government’s oil policy.
The Opposition Congress Party and Samajwadi Party in separate statements demanded from the Narendra Modi government to clarify who is right – the government or its economic advisor.
"Who is right? The government or the adviser?" Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav asked in a post on social media platform X.
"E20 petrol is damaging vehicles. The sale of E10 petrol should start again for old two-wheelers," read a picture attached with the post shared by the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
Akhilesh Yadav’s statement came a day after Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran in an article suggested that the government should make available E10 petrol for older vehicles.
Nageswaran also urged the government to examine the food-versus-fuel trade-off before pushing ethanol blending beyond 20%.
Nageswaran argued that the question facing India is no longer simply whether E20 works in older vehicles. It is also about what India will have to grow, how much land and water it will have to commit, and what agricultural uses could be displaced as the country demands more ethanol.
‘Government Stands Exposed’
Commenting on the Nageswaran’s comments, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the government of "imposing E20 without preparation" and asked why people were being subjected to this "forced experiment".
The Narendra Modi government had set a target to supply E20 Petrol by 2030. It, however, started forcing it on consumers five years in advance. E20 Petrol is blended with 20% Ethanol and 80% Petrol.
The move sparked nationwide anger with a number of citizens complaining problems in fuel pump, damages in vehicle engines and adverse effect on mileage.
The government on its part admitted drop in mileage but rejected the complaints that E20 Petrol was behind fuel pump or engine problems.
The Congress Party however upped the ante against the government after the Nageswaran’s article.
"The government's own Chief Economic Adviser has exposed the flaws in the E20 petrol policy”, Randeep Singh Surjewala said writing on social media platform X.
The Congress Rajya Sabha MP also asked the Narendra Modi government, "When will normal petrol be available again?"
Meanwhile, under pressure because of the public anger, the Narendra Modi government is considering to bring back E10 petrol alongside E20, especially for vehicles manufactured before April 2023, media reports said.
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