Delhi govt gets tough on gas pumps

NEW DELHI: The recent case in which two petrol pumps were caught selling adulterated fuel by the Delhi Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) department has exposed the ease with which fake products can be passed off to the unsuspecting public.
In a series of raids, the department has lodged cases against two petrol pumps, Paras Auto Service Station at Asaf Ali Road and Sher Service Station at Pankha Road for selling adulterated petrol.Raids were also conducted and cases registered against two LPG agencies located in Gole Market and Trans-Yamuna areas. Six fair price shops were raided and their licenses have been suspended.
The raids were conducted with the assistance of the crime branch. And 22 fair price shops and four LPG agencies have been raided since Friday. "We wanted to send a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated," food and civil supplies minister Haroon Yusuf said.
But despite all, adulteration especially in petrol pumps, is rampant.
"We all know that petrol is adulterated but it is very tough to bring the culprits to book," a government official said.
Easily accessible adulterants like naphtha and kerosene, also called solvents, are commonly used. They not only make the quality of petrol and diesel inferior but also cause pollution.
This is a major health hazard. Adulteration lead to an increase in particulate matter in the air that in turn causes respiratory ailments. The high benzene levels can be carcinogenic.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had done an independent study on fuel testing last year only to discover various loopholes even in the laboratory testing methods used for inspecting the samples.
"Mixing kerosene to petrol and diesel can increase the amount of sulphur which causes more pollution. This is very common in autos and taxis," Sunita Narain from CSE said. Such steps also nullify any positive effects of green fuels like CNG.
Meanwhile, an inquiry has been ordered against the officers in fair price shops. The raids are likely to continue for some time.