India, Aug. 17 -- India should look to restore a lower blend of ethanol to ease public concerns and lower its overall use instead of increasing it, chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran has said.

In an opinion piece for The Indian Express, Nageswaran said, "Restoring a lower blend at the pumps, say, E10, alongside the option to buy E20, would calm most public concern, lower total ethanol use instead of raising it, and protect the existing fleet while the retrofit programme catches up." The piece was co-authored by Akash Poojari, a consultant in India's Department of Economic Affairs.

However, the piece clarified that there was no evidence pointing to damage to engines owing to E20. However, it said there were concerns regarding th...