Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, asserted on Sunday that India would achieve a “new freedom” when it no longer has to import petrol and diesel, reported The Indian Express.
Speaking at the ‘Sagar Manthan’ conclave organized by the RSS-affiliated publication Panchjanya in Goa, Gadkari underscored, “Our current import stands at Rs 16 lakh crore. By transitioning to cost-effective, pollution-free, and indigenous alternatives, we can redirect this substantial amount into the hands of the poor of the country..”
The Union Minister advocated for the adoption of alternative fuels, citing examples of farmers producing ethanol from sugarcane juice, molasses, bamboo, food grains, and rice straw.
“I drive a car that operates on ethanol. I am dedicated to promoting the use of biofuel and alternative fuels. Mera toh maksat hi hai life ka ye petrol-diesel walon ka band baaja hi bajana hai (My mission in life is to take these petrol-diesel people to task). The day that even a single drop of these fuels stops coming to India, a new freedom will be achieved,” he remarked.
Gadkari highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce the cost of hydrogen, envisioning a future where cars, trucks, and buses would be powered by hydrogen.
