MVD seeks joint teams to check use of adulterated fuel in vehicles

‘Carcinogenic solvents like benzene and naphta found used as adulterants’

Close on the heels of cases being registered against buses and goods carriers that were transporting or found using adulterated fuel in Palakkad and Kozhikode, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has sought the constitution of teams in all districts to do random checking on vehicles.

Such a concerted clampdown on what is being seen as increasing reliance on adulterants owing to exorbitant pricing of diesel and petrol is the need of the hour. Solvents like benzene and naphta, which are carcinogenic, are often used as adulterants in fuel, said a senior official with an oil company who was associated with random checks on fuel outlets in the State.

“Kerosene and paraffin wax were used as adulterants till a few years ago. There are organised gangs who lace fossil fuels with different solvents in such a proportion that they attain the same density as petrol or diesel in their pure form. Similar solvents that were imported too were found to be used to adulterate fuel, despite their adverse fallout on public health and safety and life of vehicles,” he added.