Submit report on fuel adulteration in 4 weeks: NGT to Petro Min

The National Green Tribunal has directed Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which was directed to check adulteration of petrol and diesel at petrol pumps across Delhi-NCR, to submit its report on the issue within four weeks.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar slammed the ministry for delay in submitting analysis report and refused to grant two months time sought by the department.

The tribunal had constituted a committee comprising officials from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Petroleum and Gas and state pollution control boards to conduct joint inspection at any 10 petrol pumps and analyse fuel samples in the laboratory of the state boards and CPCB.

"Why have you not filed the report? We see no reason why the analysis could not be done in time. Let the entire analysis be completed within four weeks and the analysis report be filed within one week thereafter," the bench said.

It also warned that in the event of default of the orders the members of the committee would be present before it and posted the matter for next hearing on September 2.

During the hearing, the counsel appearing for Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas told the bench that it received an email on July 22 seeking further time of two months.

The green panel had earlier directed authorities to carry out surprise inspection of 50 two and four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR to ascertain their emission levels.

The directions came while hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident Cherub Singla seeking directions to inspect the fuel quality at petrol pumps across the country, especially in cities facing acute air pollution.

Singla had contended that fuel adulteration increases the emission of total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and thus adds to air pollution.