Karnataka Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil on Tuesday, 10 November squarely blamed Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for the ongoing ethanol controversy, alleging that the Centre promoted large-scale ethanol production without securing adequate procurement arrangements. Patil demanded a comprehensive investigation into the matter, escalating the political row between Karnataka and the Centre over the mandatory E20 petrol blending policy.

What the Ethanol Row Is About

A major political and consumer controversy has erupted over India's mandatory 20 per cent ethanol-blending (E20) petrol policy, after the Karnataka government alleged that fuel samples collected in the state contained ethanol levels exceeding 30 per cent. Central oil marketing companies have strongly disputed this claim, and the standoff has since drawn in senior ministers from both sides.

Patil alleged that the Centre created the problem by pushing excessive ethanol blending in petrol, holding Gadkari primarily responsible. He also criticised Union Minister Pralhad Joshi for defending the Centre's policy stance.

Key Allegations Against the Centre

According to Patil, sugar factories across states are sitting on excessive ethanol stocks, with the crisis not confined to Karnataka alone. Maharashtra faces a similar situation, though Uttar Pradesh is relatively better placed, he said. Patil contended that the Centre encouraged ethanol production at scale but failed to ensure commensurate procurement, leaving factories with mounting surplus.

He also questioned why the Centre was casting doubt on the state's test results when petrol samples had already been sent to central government laboratories for examination. Patil suggested that industry insiders — including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Murugesh Nirani and Prabhakar Kore, who operate sugar factories — be consulted for ground-level clarity.

Notably, Patil alleged that Gadkari imposed the blending system abruptly nationwide, without first running a pilot in four or five districts to assess its advantages and disadvantages — a phased approach he argued could have pre-empted the current crisis.

Karnataka's Aviation Concerns Also Raised

Separately, Patil said the Karnataka government had prepared a comprehensive aviation policy covering financial assistance, viability gap funding (VGF), and efficient airport operations, which would be placed before the next Cabinet meeting. He expressed confidence it could serve as a national model.

On the suspension of flight services from Shivamogga airport, Patil attributed the disruption to shortcomings in the Centre's UDAN-2 scheme. He said the Centre had privatised Mangaluru airport by handing it to the Adani Group and was now moving to privatise Hubballi airport. Karnataka had invested ₹1,000 crore in Kalaburagi airport and transferred it to the Centre without receiving any financial return, he alleged.

Patil said the state had proposed extending the UDAN scheme from three to five years, followed by a further five years with costs split equally between the Centre and states — a proposal the Centre reportedly rejected. As a result, 17 airports across the country had become non-operational, he claimed. Flight services at Kalaburagi airport have since been revived, with 80 per cent of funding provided by the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) and the remaining 20 per cent by the state government.

Patil also challenged Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra to arrange comparable funding for Shivamogga airport rather than blame the state government.

What Happens Next

With petrol samples under examination in central laboratories and the state demanding a formal inquiry, the ethanol blending dispute is set to intensify. The outcome of the lab tests and any response from Gadkari's ministry are likely to determine the next political and policy moves in what has become a multi-state flashpoint.