Fuel adulteration: NGT orders inspection of petrol pumps

An engineer today moved the National Green Tribunal against alleged adulteration of petrol and diesel at fuel stations prompting the green panel to direct inspection of petrol pumps across Delhi-NCR and seek a response from the Centre on the issue.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also issued notices to Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Petroleum, Delhi government, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and others.
"We direct CPCB, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Ministry of Petroleum to conduct joint inspection of any 10 petrol pumps in different parts of Delhi-NCR. The committee would collect and analyse samples and submit a report before the Tribunal," the bench said.

The Tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident Cherub Singla seeking directions to inspect the fuel quality at petrol pumps across the country especially in cities facing acute air pollution.
The green panel also directed authorities to carry out surprise inspection of four-wheelers and two-wheelers in Delhi-NCR to ascertain their emission levels.
Singla in his plea, filed through advocate Avneesh Arputham, also placed a report on consequences of fuel adulteration by Department of Engineering and Tecnology, Akola, in Maharashtra and cited its adverse impact on environment.

Singla has contended that fuel adulteration increases the emission of total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and thus adds to air pollution.

"Adulteration of fuel supplied to the end-consumers is being carried out in cities across India which has contributed to the air pollution and aggravated the already terrible conditions. A substantial cause of increasing air pollution from vehicular emissions is due to the adulteration of fuels at the stage of sale and even during transportation.
"It is submitted that fuels like petrol and diesel are often adulterated with fuels like kerosene. This is because kerosene is substantially cheaper than diesel and petrol due to high subsidies granted by the government..," the plea said.
Alleging that weak regulatory regime has allowed the "adulteration racket" to flourish, the petition has sought immediate closure of petrol pumps and other intermediate agencies found dealing with adulterated fuels and imposition of severe penalty on them.