Congress attacks E20 rollout, cites water and food security concernsThe Congress intensified its criticism of the Centre's E20 fuel rollout, alleging it threatens water resources and food security. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Modi government is billing the hurried nationwide rollout of E20 fuel as a step towards cleaner energy and lower oil imports, but a holistic assessment of its ecological impact must account for E20’s impact on water resources and food security. While other countries largely produce ethanol from agricultural residues and other waste biomass, India’s ethanol production relies primarily on sugarcane, rice, and maize, Ramesh pointed out. The Congress leader further pointed out that even maize-based ethanol requires roughly 4,670 litres of water per litre of fuel. A genuinely “green” fuel policy must account for the entire ecological footprint of the fuel it promotes, Ramesh asserted.