The government has decided to mandate the use of petrol doped with 5 per cent ethanol in two phases throughout the country.
The first phase, which will commence from January 1, 2003, will focus on the major sugar producing states while the second phase would cover the rest of the country.
The control order regulating the supply and distribution of petrol had been amended accordingly, an official release issued today said.
The nine states covered under the first phase are: Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The four Union Territories are: Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Pondicherry. The blended fuel called gasohol would be supplied through 11,538 retail outlets, the release said.