'Engines failing': DKS accuses Centre of 'cover up' amid ethanol belnding row

Calling the issue a major concern for the country, the chief minister alleged that cheaper ethanol was being mixed with petrol to increase profits

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday targeted the Centre over allegations of excessive ethanol blending in petrol, claiming that thousands of vehicles were experiencing problems, including repeated engine failures and reduced mileage. He said the state government had collected samples from 67 locations and was investigating complaints about ethanol levels exceeding the prescribed limit. "Engines are stopping repeatedly, and mileage has decreased," Shivakumar said, adding that around 30% of the investigation had been completed. He said the state government had already informed the Centre about the locations and that its findings would be made public. "We have conducted an investigation first. 30% [of the work] is complete. Tomorrow, our Minister will officially hold a press conference and give all details. The government cannot cover it up," he said, as quoted by news agency ANI. Shivakumar alleged that excessive ethanol mixing was taking place at petrol pumps rather than during the supply process. "We have checked, and the mixing is happening at the petrol bunks. Where it is being distributed, mixing is happening there. We have all the documents," he said. Calling the issue a major concern for the country, the chief minister alleged that cheaper ethanol was being mixed with petrol to increase profits. "Because it is available at a lower price, they are mixing it to make a profit. We condemn this. It is dangerous. People need to be made aware and protected," he added. The remarks come amid a dispute between the Karnataka government and public sector oil marketing companies over allegations that petrol sold at some outlets in the state contained ethanol levels significantly higher than the prescribed 20% limit. Karnataka food, civil supplies, consumer affairs and legal metrology minister Rizwan Arshad had earlier said tests on samples collected from seven locations, including Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru, had recorded ethanol levels as high as 31.2%. However, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited rejected the allegations in a joint statement on Friday. The companies maintained that petrol supplied by them across the country, including Karnataka, complied with the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for E20 fuel. They also questioned the sampling procedure and testing methodology used in the state government's October 2026 exercise, arguing that the findings were based on third-party laboratory certificates that did not follow the prescribed statutory and technical procedures.