Orders Issued to Inspect Petrol Pumps in Kerala Following Allegations of Ethanol Blending in Petrol

Following serious allegations that petrol in the neighbouring state of Karnataka is being blended with ethanol beyond the prescribed limits, the Kerala government has issued strict orders to conduct surprise inspections of petrol pumps across four major districts of the state as a precautionary measure. According to a report by Amar Ujala, concerns regarding the purity of petrol have increased in areas including Thiruvananthapuram, prompting Kerala's Civil Supplies Minister Anup Jacob to issue orders for this comprehensive probe.

The primary reason behind this decision by the Kerala government is the controversy arising from Karnataka. The Karnataka government claimed that the proportion of ethanol in the petrol blend there is significantly higher than the stipulated limit. However, the Kerala government has clarified that, so far, no confirmed or evidenced case of ethanol exceeding the prescribed limit in petrol blends has emerged within the state. Nevertheless, considering the ongoing dispute in the other state, a firm decision has been taken to ensure no negligence is overlooked.

Under this inspection drive, petrol samples will be collected from various petrol pumps in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Kannur districts. Once collected, the samples will be immediately sent to laboratories for testing. The main objective of this process is to ensure that the quality of fuel provided to the general public adheres to all prescribed standards and norms. The Minister has warned that if any irregularity or adulteration is found during this investigation, strict legal action will be taken against the responsible persons.

For this administrative action, reliance is being placed on an old government notification from 2014, issued under the 'Central Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Order, 2005'. Under this legal framework, all responsible officials, from the Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs to the Taluk Supply Officer, are empowered to conduct surprise inspections and investigations of any petrol pump.

The entire controversy began when a shocking claim was made by Rizwan Arshad, Karnataka's Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, during a press conference. According to Rizwan Arshad, the proportion of ethanol in the petrol blend in Karnataka was found to be approximately 31.2 per cent, significantly higher than the prescribed limit of 20 per cent. This claim has raised questions regarding the quality of the fuel.

On the other hand, the country's major public sector oil companies have completely denied these allegations from Karnataka. The oil companies clarified that the fuel supplied by them fully complies with all prescribed standards and legal procedures. Kerala Minister Anup Jacob further added that if any violation of rules or adulteration is detected during the investigation, strict legal steps will be taken against the culprits without any leniency.

Currently, discussions regarding the purity of petrol have intensified in Thiruvananthapuram and other districts. The aim of this prompt action by the government is to maintain consumer confidence and ensure that there is no compromise on the quality of fuel. Further action will be decided only after the laboratory reports are received.