After several laboratories across the country said they did not have facilities to test impurities in petrol and diesel, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to spell out the methodology followed to check adulteration.
A Bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim directed the Ministry and oil marketing companies to file an affidavit informing the Tribunal about the process followed to test fuel impurity and also name the laboratories being used to do so.
Affidavit sought
“It is spelt out that some more information with regard to the methodology being followed by the laboratories to test the nature of adulterated pollutant in fuel, and laboratories whose service are being taken for analysis of samples, may be furnished to the Tribunal in the form of an affidavit by the Ministry and oil marketing companies. We grant three weeks’ time to do the needful,” the NGT said.
The green panel was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident Cherub Singla, seeking directions to inspect fuel quality at petrol pumps across the country, especially in cities facing acute air pollution.
Additional Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the Ministry and oil marketing companies.
The matter has now been listed for hearing on March 9.
Panel formed
Earlier, the NGT had constituted a committee comprising officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and State pollution control boards to conduct an inspection at 10 petrol pumps across Delhi-NCR and analyse samples from there.
