India, July 15 -- Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, defending the government's ethanol-blending programme, said in an interview that motorists who dislike the blended fuel had another route open to them. "People who do not want ethanol-blended fuel can go for 100% petrol, but they will have to pay more," he said.

The remark lands in the middle of concerns about the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol - a blend of 20% ethanol with petrol - with some motorists complaining of lower mileage and accelerated wear on older engines.

The government has maintained that some vehicles may see mileage drop up to few percentage points on E20 but assert that the blend is a cleaner fuel, offers India some energy security by min...