Gadkari pitches for alternate fuels

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday pitched for alternative fuels such as ethanol and methanol along with electric vehicles, reiterating that the government's policy is to reduce import, enhance exports and curb pollution.

The minister, who had last year threatened to "bulldoze" the auto industry to adopt electric vehicles, struck a conciliatory note and said the government was not against petrol and diesel fuels. "Our policy is very clear. We want to reduce imports, increase exports and finish pollution," he said at the annual convention of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) here.

Stating that India is facing two major issues -- pollution and rising imports of fuels -Gadkari said, "Import bill is increasing due to the rise in automobile sector. This is the biggest challenge facing our economy and for that we have come out with a programme.."

Green jet fuel to get more push

The government is in the process of firming up a policy to make aviation fuel from non-edible seeds, he said. India imports aviation turbine fuel worth of Rs 300 billion every year, Gadkari said. "The petroleum ministry is firming up a policy to make aviation fuel from nonedible oil seeds so that we are able to reduce imports of ATF," he said.