Ethanol blending: Keralam govt. asks Civil Supplies Commissioner to conduct checks

Thiruvananthapuram Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob has directed the Civil Supplies Commissioner to conduct inspections in the wake of reports of excessive ethanol content in petrol. This follows discussions with the Chief Minister on the matter. At present, ethanol blend of more than the prescribed level of 20% in petrol has not come to the attention of authorities in the State.

Detection of high ethanol blend percentages in petrol sold in Karnataka led to the decision to conduct inspections in Keralam. Samples will be collected from various places in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Kannur districts for the inspection. A notification brought out by the State in 2014 according to the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, gives officials from the Civil Supplies Commissioner to the taluk supply officer powers to conduct inspections and take legal action.

If higher levels of ethanol were detected, strict action would be taken, the Minister said.