Gadkari Dismisses E20 Petrol Damage Claims, Calls Them Baseless

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has strongly rejected claims that E20 ethanol-blended petrol is causing damage to vehicles, describing such allegations as baseless and misleading. Defending the government’s ethanol blending programme, he said several countries including Brazil, the United States, and Thailand have successfully used ethanol-mixed fuel for years without facing major vehicle issues. He also questioned the credibility of social media claims, asking where these so-called experts were sourcing their information from.

His remarks come amid growing concerns from some vehicle owners online, who report reduced mileage and performance issues, particularly in older vehicles after the rollout of E20 petrol across India. The debate has intensified on social media, with one side supporting the government’s push for cleaner and more sustainable fuel, while others demand clearer technical evidence and long-term studies on its impact on older engines.