The Karnataka government has begun testing petrol samples at 67 locations across the state after thousands of motorists complained that higher ethanol blending was affecting their vehicles’ mileage and engine performance. The findings of the probe are expected on Monday, and the state government has said it will act on whatever the tests reveal.
Motorists have been complaining for weeks that their vehicles are giving fewer kilometres per litre than before, and that engines are running rougher, stalling more often and needing more frequent repairs. Mechanics and service centres have reported a rise in complaints linked to fuel, and the issue has become a talking point in the state, with vehicle owners taking to social media to compare notes on mileage drops.
The state government has said the probe covers blending units as well as retail outlets, to check whether the fuel being sold matches the prescribed ethanol blend and quality standards. Samples are being drawn from pumps across districts and sent for laboratory analysis, and officials say the results will show whether the problem lies in the blending itself or in adulteration further down the supply chain.
Ethanol blending — mixing ethanol made largely from sugarcane and grain with petrol — is a national policy aimed at cutting India’s oil import bill and reducing emissions. The blending level has been raised steadily over the years, and the government has set ambitious targets for the share of ethanol in the fuel sold at pumps across the country.
But the rollout has not been without friction. Older vehicles, in particular, were not designed for higher ethanol blends, and their owners have long worried about corrosion, wear and tear and falling mileage. The Karnataka complaints are the most organised expression yet of that anxiety, and the outcome of the tests will be watched closely in other states, where similar grumbles have surfaced.
The state government has sought to reassure motorists, saying the testing exercise is a precaution and that the interests of vehicle owners will be protected. It has also said that if the tests find any outlet or blending unit flouting norms, action will follow.
For the thousands of motorists who say their fuel bills have climbed while their mileage has fallen, the test results cannot come soon enough. The probe will settle whether the problem is real and measurable — or whether the ethanol in the tank is being blamed for troubles that have another cause entirely.
