Adulteration is a profitable venture

new delhi: ioc director (research anddevelopment) a k bhatnagar admitted that the huge difference in the prices ofadulterants and petrol, diesel may tempt unscrupulous dealers to adulteratefuel. he said strict checks and punishments were the only way of controllingadulteration. bhatnagar, therefore, had nothing to say when asked about the newrelaxed punishment for adulterers. the penal actions according to the marketingdiscipline guidelines (mdg), 1998, of the oil industry, had stipulated a fine ofrs one lakh and suspension of sale and supplies of all products for 45 days to apump which was caught adulterating fuel. the recently adopted mdg 2001, however,stipulates a fine of rs 20,000 and suspension of sales for 30 days. similarly,punishment for short delivery of products, unauthorised storage facility andother irregularities has been diluted.