Bengaluru: Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Friday rejected the Karnataka government’s allegation that petrol sold at certain retail outlets in the state contained ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed limit, stating that the tests were not conducted in accordance with established procedures.
The Karnataka government had alleged that major oil marketing companies were supplying petrol containing more than the permitted 20 per cent ethanol blend, with test results indicating levels as high as 31.2 per cent. It had also sought action against the companies over the alleged violation.
Addressing a press conference, Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad said the allegations were based on tests conducted on petrol samples collected from Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru.
However, the oil companies maintained that the findings could not be considered valid as the samples had not been tested in accordance with the prescribed standards.
