Lok Sabha Question No. 1897 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-09
Subject: Adulteration of Petrol and Diesel
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1897

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## Adultration of Petrol and Diesel

1897. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

पेोिलयम और ाकृितक गैस मंी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government is aware of adulteration of petrol and diesel across various States in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government has adequate methods to identify the petrol and diesel adulteration in the country, if so, the details of the methods used in the country and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)    the  details  of  registered  cases  against  petrol  bunk  owners  and  individuals involved in adulteration of petrol and diesel during the last five years across the country, State-wise;
- (d)   the details of number of liters of adulterated petrol and diesel seized by the Government during the said period, State and year-wise; and
- (e)  whether the Government has done any study on use of adulterated petrol and diesel causing more pollution than pure petrol and diesel and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेवर तेल )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) & (b)      Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are aware  of  problem  of  adulteration  in  petrol  and  diesel  and  have  adequate monitoring  mechanism  for  identifying  and  checking  adulteration.  It  is  a continuous  process  and  OMCs  have  been  taking  various  steps/methods  to curb  adulteration  to  ensure  that  end  customers  get  the  right  quality  and quantity.

Various initiatives and methods have been adopted by OMCs as per Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) and the Dealership Agreement, to curb adulteration, which includes:

- (i) Making available Filter Paper, Calibrated Density Equipment (Hydrometer/Thermometer) & 5 Liter Calibrated Measure at the Retail Outlets for checking quality & quantity of MS/HSD.
- (ii) Conducting Regular / Surprise inspections at Retail Outlets by OMC Field Officers/ Senior Officers/Mobile labs throughout the country. In case of irregularities, action is taken as per the MDG  and dealership agreement.
- (iii) Creation  of  a  separate  Quality  Assurance  Cell  (QAC)  for  carrying  out inspections.
- (iv) Drawing  of  samples  from  petrol  pumps  at  random  and  sending  for testing to authorized laboratories.
- (v) Sealing of tankers before leaving company premises to protect against pilferage/adulteration en-route.
- (vi) Installation of GPS to monitor movement of Tank Trucks carrying MS / HSD.
- (vii) Conducting  Third  Party  Audit  of  Retail  Outlets  by  OMCs  for  effective monitoring and benchmarking.
- (viii) Automation  of  Retail  Outlets  by  OMCs  which  enable  the  real-time capture of sales transaction and monitoring of tank stocks and receipts.
- (c) & (d)    Established cases of adulteration are classified as 'Critical irregularities' under the  Marketing  Discipline  Guidelines  and  in  such  cases  the  retail  outlet dealerships are terminated in first instance itself by OMCs. 58 number of retail outlets have been terminated by OMCs  on the established cases of adulteration for the years from 2015-16 to Apr-Sep 2021.
- (e)          OMCs  have  intimated  that  they  have  not  carried  out  any  study  on  use  of adulterated  petrol  and  diesel  causing  more  pollution  than  pure  petrol  and diesel.

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