Rahul Gandhi questions Centre over excess ethanol in E20 petrol samples
The Congress leader cited Karnataka government test results alleging ethanol levels in several petrol samples exceeded the prescribed 20 per cent limit.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday questioned the Modi government regarding the ethanol content in E20 petrol, citing test results from samples collected by the Karnataka government. Gandhi alleged that several samples contained ethanol levels beyond the permitted 20 per cent limit.
According to Business Standard, Gandhi claimed that 11 out of 14 samples tested in seven districts of Karnataka exceeded the limit. He specifically noted that samples from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) recorded levels of 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively. He alleged that both government-owned and private companies, including Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Nayara, and Shell, exceeded the limit.
Gandhi alleged that excessive ethanol blending could reduce vehicle mileage and increase maintenance costs. He also questioned why fuel stations do not have labels disclosing the actual ethanol content. The Congress leader asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify the actual ethanol content in petrol and when action would be taken against companies mixing more than 20 per cent ethanol.
The Karnataka government's findings, reported by Urban Acres, involve samples from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru, and Tumakuru. Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad stated that the tests were conducted at an accredited laboratory.
State-run OMCs, including IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL, have disputed the claims. The companies stated that their E20 petrol conforms to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications of 19-21 per cent. They questioned the sampling and testing procedures, noting that the findings were not supported by tests conducted under prescribed statutory and technical procedures.