Central government instructs states to crack down on fuel adulteration

The central government has asked state chief secretaries to ensure strict action against fuel adulteration and any lapses in the ethanol-blended petrol supply chain. This directive comes as concerns surrounding the quality and compatibility of E20 petrol recently flared up among swathes of motorists.

Centre calls for ‘iron hand’ consequences against fuel adulteration

In a recently-issued Q&A note addressing concerns about the use of E20, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that any procedural lapse in the handling of fuel must be dealt with firmly. It called for “an iron hand against any instance of adulteration” and said there should be zero tolerance for practices that compromise fuel quality.

However, the ministry did not mention whether adulteration had been detected across the E20 supply chain. The release also did not provide details of specific cases, inspections, or penalties imposed by states.

The primary reason behind the crackdown is to distinguish between concerns related to the approved E20 specification, and problems that could arise from adulteration or failures in handling and quality-control procedures. According to the ministry, a lapse at any stage of the supply chain should not be treated as evidence that the prescribed E20 fuel standard is unsafe.

Many motorists have raised concerns about E20, particularly pertaining to mileage drops, reduced performance, and possible damage to fuel system components. Some online reports even linked vehicle breakdowns to E20, when in reality, the culprit was found to be adulterated fuel.