Karnataka CM Targets Centre Over Vehicle Damage Claims 'Ethanol Blending'

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday questioned the Centre's accountability over the problems arising from ethanol blending in petrol, claiming that vehicles across the country were suffering reduced mileage and engine damage.

Reacting to the BJP's protest against price rise in Bengaluru, he said the opposition party should also raise concerns over the alleged adverse impact of ethanol blending on vehicles.

"Let the BJP protest against price rise; it's politics. But when petrol and diesel prices increased, ethanol was mixed in vehicles, with the blending going beyond 20 per cent to



30 per cent. 

Mileage has come down. Vehicles are getting damaged, Engines are suffering damage, and vehicles are stopping midway. Can't they (BJP) see this? Don't they know about it," Shivakumar asked, while speaking to reporters.

Clarifying that he was not targeting petrol pump operators, the CM said the Centre should take responsibility for investigating the source and quality of the fuel being supplied.

"At the very least, shouldn't the central government have some responsibility to find out where it was procured, where it was mixed and where it came from," he asked.