Mumbai, July 16 (IANS) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a revision of the central government’s compulsory ethanol-blended petrol policy.

He urged the Prime Minister to prioritise “consumer choice” by reintroducing 100 per cent pure petrol alongside blended fuel alternatives.

Thackeray highlighted that purchasing a vehicle is a milestone achieved through years of hard work, savings, and long-term EMIs for the youth and middle-class families. However, forced consumption of heavily blended fuel is reportedly hurting vehicle owners where it matters most: performance and their wallets.

He wrote that many citizens now claim that with higher ethanol blending, their vehicles are getting lower mileage and poorer performance, adding that a large portion of the vehicles currently on Indian roads were never designed to run on high-ethanol blends.

Without fuel alternatives at the pump, Thackeray stated that ordinary citizens are unfairly bearing the operational and mechanical costs of this nationwide policy transition.

He noted that the government’s own FAQs acknowledge a 3-5 per cent reduction in fuel economy for some vehicles.

Beyond immediate consumer issues, the former Maharashtra Environment Minister raised critical questions about the broader ecological impact of India’s aggressive ethanol push.

He specifically flagged the country’s growing reliance on sugarcane cultivation to meet ethanol manufacturing targets, noting that sugarcane is one of India’s most water-intensive crops.

Thackeray questioned the sustainability of scaling up its production at a time when multiple regions across India face acute water shortages.

He pointed out a growing public perception that the current policy disproportionately benefits specific industrial lobbies and corporate entities rather than the public, calling on the central government to address these concerns with complete transparency.

Drawing parallels with international markets where consumers freely choose their fuel based on vehicle compatibility, Thackeray requested that the Government of India adopt a similarly flexible approach.

He proposed a two-option system at fuel stations: 100 per cent pure petrol for standard, older, or non-compatible vehicles, and ethanol-blended petrol for consumers who wish to opt in or own compatible flex-fuel vehicles.

Thackeray concluded his letter by emphasising that providing options would safeguard consumer rights, prevent vehicular damage to millions of pre-existing automobiles, and restore public trust in sustainable policy initiatives.

Thackeray’s move to draw the PM’s attention comes amid the ongoing debate surrounding India’s Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) – which hit the historic milestone of a mandatory nationwide E20 (20 per cent ethanol, 80 per cent petrol) rollout. Even though the government views the E20 mandate as a massive win for energy independence and forex savings, the transition has run directly into logistical rigidities and friction from consumers and the agricultural sector.

–IANS

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