Authorities in Keralam are conducting random fuel tests across four districts following reports of excessive ethanol in Karnataka petrol.
Keralam authorities have launched random inspections of petrol pumps across four districts to check if fuel contains ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed E20 limit, according to India Today. The state government on Monday said the move follows motorist complaints regarding vehicle damage and fears over fuel quality.
Keralam Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said petrol samples are being collected from Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur. The samples are being sent to government laboratories, with results expected within 10 days.
Jacob stated that no instances of excess ethanol blending have been reported in Keralam so far. However, he warned that outlets found selling petrol with excessive ethanol could face prosecution and sealing.
The inspections follow allegations from Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad on November 6. Arshad claimed laboratory tests of samples from seven districts showed ethanol content reaching 31.2%, against the 20% E20 benchmark.
Public sector oil companies, including Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, have rejected the Karnataka findings. In a joint statement, the companies said the claims were not supported by testing conducted in accordance with prescribed statutory and technical procedures.
The Union Petroleum Ministry stated in a press release that 893 samples tested across 27 states and Union Territories, including 56 from Karnataka, had ethanol content within the prescribed 19% to 21% range.
