Bengaluru: Union minister Pralhad Joshi Tuesday offered to send an oil marketing company (OMC) officer for joint testing of fuel samples with Karnataka govt officials, challenging state minister Rizwan Arshad to oversee the exercise.The offer came amid an escalating row over ethanol blending in petrol, with chief minister DK Shivakumar questioning the Centre’s accountability and alleging that excessive blending was affecting vehicle performance.“Let Rizwan Arshad sit with our officers and their officers and be the judge,” Joshi said, accusing Congress of raising the issue to appease Rahul Gandhi. He claimed the party had shifted its focus to ethanol after failing to gain public support over its protests on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and EVMs.Defending ethanol blending, Joshi said the policy was intended to benefit farmers and reduce dependence on imported crude.To further justify his point that there was no business sense in mixing more than the permissible limit of ethanol in petrol, Joshi said: “The base price of petrol is Rs 53 [per litre], while the cost of ethanol is between Rs 57 and Rs 71, if we use maize-based ethanol.“He also argued that fuel samples could be tested only in designated laboratories equipped with specialised facilities, citing provisions introduced in 2005 under the then UPA govt at the Centre through the Petroleum and Diesel Order. Karnataka should examine the test results already shared by the Centre and make the remaining details public, Joshi said.Reacting to these observations, Arshad hit back, saying that Joshi did not hold the petroleum portfolio and had responded on behalf of Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Sarcastically suggesting that Joshi take over the portfolio, he said Karnataka was not opposed to ethanol blending but wanted to ensure consumers were not cheated.“Why is the Union govt attempting to turn a public interest issue into a farmer-versus-people debate? Karnataka is not against ethanol blending, but it is against people being cheated,” Arshad said, while acknowledging the benefits of increased ethanol use for sugar factories.He alleged that petrol containing 26% to 31% ethanol was being sold as E20. Questioning the Centre’s claim that 893 samples nationwide, including 56 from Karnataka, were compliant, he said oil companies were effectively acting as both the accused and the judge by testing their own products and certifying compliance.Karnataka had submitted 63 samples to OMC laboratories, but none of the reports disclosed the actual ethanol content, Arshad said. He sought an independent verification mechanism, disclosure of ethanol content at petrol pumps and the option for consumers to choose between E10, E20 and pure petrol.Joining the debate, Shivakumar questioned the Centre’s accountability, saying ethanol blending beyond 20% to 30% was affecting mileage, damaging engines and causing vehicles to stall midway.“Let the BJP protest price rise; it’s politics. But ethanol was mixed with the blending going beyond 20 to 30%. Mileage has come down. Engines are getting damaged and vehicles are stopping midway. Can’t they see these?” he asked.Clarifying that he was not targeting petrol pump operators, Shivakumar said the Centre should investigate the source and quality of fuel being supplied.Points for gfxTHE E20 SLUGFEST* Joshi cites Rs 53/litre petrol vs Rs 57-71/ltr ethanol cost to question economics of excess blending* Centre says 893 fuel samples tested nationwide, including 56 from Karnataka, have turned out to be compliant* K’taka claims it submitted 63 samples to OMC labs, but their reports did not disclose ethanol percentages* State minister Arshad claims some petrol samples contained 26%-31% ethanol* K’taka seeks independent testing, disclosure of ethanol content at pumps, and options to buy E10, E20 or pure petrol* CM Shivakumar alleges excessive blending reducing mileage, damaging engines and causing vehicles to stall
