Law To Check Naphtha Use In Motor Spirit Adulteration

The government is ready with legislation to check diversion of naphtha for adulteration of motor spirit. The "naphtha acquisition, sale, storage and prevention of use in automobiles order" is expected to be notified later this month.

The legislation has become necessary in view of the large-scale diversion of cheaper naphtha for adulteration of the more expensive motor spirit. The practice has assumed menacing proportions after naphtha was put on open general licence (OGL) following the government's order removing it from the category of controlled petroleum products in November 1997.

Naphtha, which is primarily used by petrochemical units and has been permitted by the government for use in some power units as well, is a highly inflammable product that mixes freely with motor spirit.

 

The ministry for petroleum and natural gas is learnt to have received a number of complaints regarding diversion of naphtha for adulteration of motor spirit. However, in the absence of a proper legislation, the government could not take effective steps to check the misuse of naphtha.

The new order is learnt to have spelt out the term naphtha in no ambiguous terms and has also detailed the end-uses that it can be put to.