Need to reduce fossil fuel imports through alternative fuels, biofuels: Nitin Gadkari
New Delhi, June 4
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said India must accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels and biofuels to reduce air pollution and cut dependence on imported fossil fuels, as he launched Maruti Suzuki's first flex-fuel car in India at the 'India Goes Flex' event.
Speaking at the launch, Gadkari said the transition towards cleaner fuels is essential for both environmental protection and India's goal of becoming self-reliant in energy.
"Air pollution is causing serious health problems for us, and therefore protecting ecology and the environment must be our highest priority," Gadkari said during his address at the event.
Highlighting the role of the transport sector in pollution, the minister said, "Nearly 40 per cent of air pollution is linked to the transport sector, which falls under our ministry's responsibility. This is a matter of great concern for me. Therefore, our target is to reduce air pollution."
Calling the launch an important step in that direction, Gadkari said, "Today marks an important step towards reducing pollution."
From an economic standpoint, the minister stressed the need to reduce India's dependence on imported fossil fuels.
"India spends around Rs 22-23 lakh crore on importing fossil fuels. Our Prime Minister has spoken about building an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). If we want to achieve that goal, we must reduce imports and increase exports," he said.
Gadkari said alternative fuels and biofuels would play a crucial role in achieving that objective.
"If we want to reduce imports, we need to work extensively on alternative fuels and biofuels," he said.
The minister also highlighted the growing importance of India's automobile industry, describing it as a key contributor to economic growth and employment generation.
"This industry is not only a global industry but also a key driver of India's economic growth. When our government came to power, the size of this industry was around Rs 12 lakh crore. Today, it has grown to about Rs 23 lakh crore," Gadkari said.
He noted that India has emerged as the world's third-largest automobile industry.
"We were ranked seventh in the world. Subsequently, we overtook Japan and moved up in the rankings, and now we are in the third position. Today, we are the world's third automobile industry," he said.
Gadkari further said the automobile sector has made a significant contribution to employment and government revenues.
"This industry has provided employment to 4.5 crore young people. This is also the industry that contributes the highest revenue to both the state governments and the Government of India through GST. Therefore, our growth is closely linked with the growth of this industry," the minister added.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri also attended the event.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Question is - will these flex-fuel cars be affordable for common people like us? Maruti is launching it, but if it costs 10-12 lakhs, who will buy it? Also, ethanol production itself uses water and land. We need to ensure biofuel production doesn't compete with food crops. Overall good initiative but implementation is key. 🌱
Interesting move by India. I've seen flex-fuel vehicles work in Brazil for decades. The key is building the right infrastructure - ethanol pumps, distribution networks, and proper engine technology. If India can replicate Brazil's success, it could be a game-changer for both pollution and energy security. But it won't happen overnight.
Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for better public transport in my city. If we really want to reduce pollution and imports, we should focus on metro, electric buses, and better trains. Private cars, even flex-fuel ones, still cause congestion. Gadkari ji's heart is in the right place, but we need a multi-pronged approach. Also, why no mention of solar-powered vehicles? ☀️
Great to see India thinking long-term! But my concern is about the agricultural side - sugarcane farmers already face payment issues. Will ethanol production provide them stable income? Also, what about jatropha and other non-food sources? We need a comprehensive policy that benefits both the environment and farmers. Gadkari ji should also push for hydrogen fuel cells. 🚗💨
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