Addressing a press conference, AAP Goa President Valmiki Naik said the party had conducted an awareness drive at petrol pumps and garages across North and South Goa, claiming that a majority of motorists were unaware that E20 petrol was being sold.
"E20 means petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol. This decision was implemented without proper planning, public awareness or consultation. People are paying the same fuel price but are now getting lower mileage and facing engine-related problems," Naik said.
He alleged that vehicle mileage had reduced by 20 to 30 per cent after the introduction of E20 petrol, while motorists were also reporting starting trouble, poor pickup and engine damage, forcing them to spend thousands of rupees on repairs.
Naik said AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had visited petrol pumps in Delhi to interact with consumers and later wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with two demands.
"The first demand is that consumers should have the option of choosing petrol with zero ethanol content, especially since vehicles manufactured before 2023 are not designed for E20 fuel. The second demand is that petrol prices should be reduced by Rs 20 to Rs 25 per litre to offset the reduction in mileage caused by ethanol blending," he said.
According to Naik, AAP workers visited petrol pumps and garages across Goa to assess public awareness and gather feedback on the issue.
AAP Goa Vice President Sandesh Telekar Dessai said the party covered six to seven petrol pumps in South Goa, particularly in Margao, and found that many consumers, petrol pump staff and even some owners were either unaware of E20 petrol or claimed it had not yet been introduced.
"The public is largely unaware of what they are filling in their vehicles. From my personal experience, my car's mileage dropped from 16-17 kmpl to around 13 kmpl. Initially I thought there was a mechanical issue, but later realised it was linked to E20 petrol," Dessai claimed.
He said AAP had launched a nationwide petition to collect feedback from motorists, adding that the responses would be submitted to the Prime Minister.
AAP South Goa Youth Wing leader Coutinho said the party also interacted with mechanics in Cuncolim, Navelim and Margao, who allegedly reported an increase in vehicles developing engine-related issues.
"Many people buy new vehicles through loans and down payments, but within a few months they are facing engine problems. Showrooms deny responsibility, forcing customers to approach private mechanics. Even after repairs, many vehicles return with similar issues because there has been no awareness or technical guidance regarding E20 petrol," he claimed.
Sharing findings from North Goa, Naik said around 80 per cent of the motorists they interacted with were unaware that all petrol variants, including premium fuels such as Power 95 and Speed, also contain 20 per cent ethanol.
"People told us they had noticed lower mileage and repeated starting or pickup issues over the last few months, but they never linked it to the fuel. Mechanics also informed us that motorcycles are frequently coming in with carburettor, float pin and petrol cock problems, and the issues recur even after replacing parts," he alleged.
Naik announced that AAP has launched a national campaign through the website "Stop E20 Petrol" and appealed to Goans to document vehicle problems experienced over the past three to six months and sign the online petition.
"We will submit these petitions to the Prime Minister. In a democracy, people should have the right to choose the fuel they use," he said.
Reiterating the party's demands, Naik said the government should reduce petrol prices if ethanol blending continues and restore consumer choice by making regular petrol available for vehicles that are not E20-compatible.
"There is no benefit to consumers if they are paying the same price for fuel while getting lower mileage. We are also asking automobile manufacturers to clearly state whether their vehicles are compatible with E20 fuel and issue written notifications so that consumers can seek accountability if their vehicles are damaged," he said.
