Abstract

Fuel Adulteration Consequences in India : A Review

Author(s): Amit P. Gawande and Jayant P. Kaware

The quantum of petroleum product utilization in India is increasing due to increase in population, urbanization, development activities and changes in life style, which leads to widespread pollution in the environment. Thus tailpipe emissions from low level public transport such as auto rickshaw is a menace and become a serious problem due to their contribution in pollution and bypassing the subsidized kerosene to adulteration market. As fuel prices rise, the public transport driver cuts costs by blending the cheaper hydrocarbon into highly taxed hydrocarbon. The blending may be as much as 80-90%. Fuel adulteration is essentially an unintended consequence of tax policies and the attempt to control fuel prices, in the name of fairness. Air pollution is the ultimate result. This problem is not unique to India, but prevalent in many developing countries including those outside of south Asia. This problem is largely absent in economies that do not regulate the ability of fuel producers to innovate or price based on market demand. In the present paper developed techniques for fuel adulteration with kerosene and resulting tailpipe emissions causing environmental impacts has been studied.