OMCs monitor E20 fuel quality regularly, tests conducted up to 12 times daily: Govt

Seeking to allay concerns over reports of fuel contamination and adulteration, the government stated on Tuesday that fuel quality is monitored regularly by oil marketing companies, and that surveillance has been intensified, while water ingress testing is now being conducted 8-12 times a day at more than 87,000 fuel retail outlets across the country.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, only two cases of chloride contamination have been detected across the country so far, with fuel sales at both retail outlets suspended immediately. "Only two cases of chloride contamination have been found in the entire country till now and sales from those pumps were suspended immediately," the ministry stated.

Meanwhile, MoS for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said on Tuesday stated that the government will continue to adopt appropriate fiscal and administrative measures to mitigate the impact of future fuel price volatility while maintaining fiscal sustainability. Since the beginning of the West Asia conflict, PSU OMCs have marginally increased the retail prices of petrol and diesel despite sharp increases in international crude oil prices, he said in a reply to the Rajya Sabha.   

-Agencies