The Supreme Court will hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking that the exact percentage of ethanol blended in petrol be displayed on the nozzles of all petrol pumps and on petrol bills across the country.
According to PTI, a bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B Varale will hear the case. The petition has been filed by Narendra Kumar Goswami.
Ethanol percentage to be displayed on pump nozzles and petrol bills
The petition seeks directions to the Centre and concerned authorities to ensure that the ethanol-blending percentage is clearly displayed on every dispensing nozzle at petrol pumps.
It also seeks that every petrol purchase receipt should mandatorily mention the percentage of ethanol blended in the fuel.
Demand for online compatibility database for vehicles
The petitioner has asked the court to direct the government to create an official and publicly accessible online database. It should allow users to search by vehicle manufacturer, model, engine type and year of manufacture, helping citizens determine whether their vehicle is compatible with E20 or other ethanol blends.
Expert committee proposed to assess impact of E20 petrol
The petition also seeks the formation of an independent expert committee comprising:
Representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Representatives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Members of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Independent automobile engineers
The committee would assess the real-world impact of E20 fuel on vehicles and publish a public report.
Impact on mileage, engine life and environment to be assessed
The petition seeks an assessment of:
- Mileage and maintenance: The impact of ethanol-blended petrol on vehicle mileage, engine life and maintenance costs.
- Warranty and insurance: The effect of using ethanol-blended fuel on vehicle warranties and insurance claims.
- Environment and water consumption: The environmental impact of vehicle emissions and water consumption involved in ethanol production.
- Food security: The impact of diverting grains and sugarcane for ethanol production on food security and animal feed.
