New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) The government today said the adulteration of petrol through retail outlets cannot be ruled out due to the huge price difference between petrol/diesel and various adulterants including Kerosone available in the market.

The government admitted that there had been high incidents of short delivery of fuels in 2006-07.

To check adulteration in auto fuels and diversion of PDS kerosene, government has asked Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to take various steps to contain adulteration, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel said in the Rajya Sabha.

In a written reply, Mr Patel said state governments are empowered to take action against those indulging in adulteration. The government have requested state governments/union territories to take steps to control adulteration.

He said the government has taken the initiative to expedite the instalion of Global Positioning System (GPS) to monitor the movement of tank-trucks.

OMCs have also introduced new tamper proof tank-truck locking systems to prevent en-route adulteration by transporters.

There has been 698 incidents of short delivery of fuels including petrol and diesel. Also there has been 152 cases of suspected adulteration cases and 178 cases of discrepancy in stock during the year 2006-07.

These companies have commenced introduction of marker system in kerosene to check adulteration in auto fuels.

The OMCs have commenced introduction of marker in kerosene on all India basis, a world class technology to curb and eventually elminate adulteration.

UNI