New Delhi, Dec. 12 -- Reiterating his stand on ethanol-blended petrol, union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday said the E20 fuel transition is already delivering major environmental gains without causing any harm to vehicle engines.

Gadkari said this while replying to a question by TMC MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia from West Bengal.

Gadkari said, "The substitution of crude oil with ethanol has already yielded significant environmental benefits. The resulting reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is approximately 245 lakh metric tons. The total carbon emission reduction is 736 lakh metric tons, which is equivalent to the environmental impact of planting 30 crore trees."

Ethanol, he stressed, i...