A PIL challenges the rollout of E20 petrol, warning it harms engines, cuts fuel efficiency, and leaves consumers without insurance cover. The plea seeks ethanol-free petrol, labelling, and consumer protection.
New Delhi: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the government’s decision to roll out 20 percent Ethanol Blended Petrol (E20) across the country without giving consumers the option to buy normal petrol without ethanol.
The petition has been filed by advocate Akshay Malhotra.
The plea states that vehicles manufactured in India before April 2023 are not made to handle petrol mixed with 20 percent ethanol. Even vehicles that are just two years old and follow the BS-VI standards are not fully compatible with this high ethanol content.
According to the petition, reports from automobile manufacturers and research bodies have shown that ethanol blending in petrol leads to several problems. It can cause corrosion of engine parts, reduce the fuel efficiency of vehicles, and result in faster and premature wear and tear.
The petitioner has also warned that this damage will not be covered under insurance policies. If vehicles get damaged because of the use of E20 petrol, consumers may not get any compensation.
The petition reads,
“As the vehicles are not compatible with ethanol blended petrol which will result in damage to the said vehicles, the claim raised in this regard will not be covered by the manufacturers or the insurance companies as the consumers have violated the terms specified.”
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To strengthen the argument, the plea has drawn comparisons with other countries. It points out that in the United States of America, ethanol blended petrol with 10 percent ethanol is common, but ethanol-free petrol is also easily available for consumers.
Similarly, in the European Union, petrol with 5 percent and 10 percent ethanol is sold, and the blends come with clear labelling so that consumers know what they are buying.
The petitioner has alleged that in India, the government has made ethanol-blended petrol the only option for consumers.
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It says,
“In India, without informing the consumers, only ethanol blended petrol is made available to the public without any labelling or display of composition of the fuel.”
The PIL has therefore sought clear directions from the Supreme Court. It has asked for the availability of ethanol-free petrol at all fuel stations, proper and mandatory labelling of ethanol content in petrol, strict enforcement of consumer protection laws, and a detailed nationwide study on the effect of E20 petrol on vehicle life and performance.
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