New Delhi, July 27: Several transport associations in the national capital have announced a protest march to Parliament on August 4, demanding that consumers be given the option to choose between regular petrol and E20 ethanol-blended fuel instead of relying solely on the blended variant.
Representatives of taxi, tourist transport and goods transport organisations said the demonstration aims to highlight concerns raised by vehicle owners and commercial operators regarding the wider availability of E20 fuel.
They maintained that the protest is intended to draw the attention of policymakers and is not linked to any political organisation or campaign.Leaders of the participating associations said they are seeking the continued availability of conventional petrol alongside E20, arguing that motorists should be free to decide which fuel best suits their vehicles.
They also clarified that no nationwide transport strike has been announced in connection with the planned march.
Transport body representatives expressed concerns over reports from some vehicle owners alleging reduced fuel efficiency and possible maintenance issues after using ethanol-blended petrol.
They urged the government to review consumer feedback before expanding the use of the fuel.The protest announcement comes amid growing public discussion on social media over India’s E20 fuel programme. While online campaigns opposing ethanol-blended petrol have attracted attention in recent days, transport leaders said their protest has been organised independently.
The E20 programme involves blending 20 percent ethanol with 80 percent petrol as part of the government’s strategy to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, lower vehicle emissions and promote the use of domestically produced biofuels.
The Centre has maintained that E20 fuel is safe for vehicles designed or approved for its use and has said the programme supports environmental goals as well as the interests of farmers by increasing demand for ethanol feedstock.
The government has also stated that there is no immediate proposal to raise the ethanol blend beyond 20 percent.The proposed march is expected to bring together transport operators from Delhi and other regions to press for greater consumer choice in fuel availability while urging authorities to address concerns raised by sections of the transport industry.
