You can get ethanol-blended petrol in Noida or Ghaziabad in UP , but not in Delhi. This is because Delhi charges Rs 2 as “import duty“ whereas UP levies Re 1 as “export duty“ on per litre of ethanol. This is not peculiar to this part of the country. Another eight states either charge some import or export duty or both on movement of ethanol.

The list of states includes some of the major sugarcane producing states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab.The practice is on despite the UPA and now the NDA pushing for more blending of ethanol in petrol. Ethanol is a cheaper and cleaner fuel.

Sources said road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, who is pushing for more use of ethanol including introducing vehicles that can run on 85% and 90% blending of ethanol, is keen to resolve the prevailing “duties“ across different states.