New Delhi: The Karnataka government has said that it stands by its findings that oil marketing companies were selling petrol across the state containing significantly higher levels of ethanol than the prescribed 20% blend.Addressing a press conference on Monday (November 9), Karnataka food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Rizwan Arshad said that the state government followed all the prescribed sampling and testing procedures to come to the conclusion about higher levels of ethanol being used, reported Deccan Herald.He also challenged the OMCs to explain the actual ethanol content in 63 samples collected from petrol pumps across the state.“Why did you not invite us for a joint inspection when we asked you to provide the results of those 63 samples. You did not give us a clear report and forced us to approach a third-party laboratory. Now you are disputing that report as well,” said Rizwan.Rizwan added that the OMCs’ response to the Karnataka government’s findings is long on technicalities and silent on the “one question that matters: how much ethanol is in the petrol at our pumps?”Rizwan also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of not making it clear how much ethanol content is there in petrol sold to consumers.“Instead of addressing our findings with scientific evidence, the Union Government has responded through Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), leaving one crucial question unanswered: What is the actual ethanol content in the petrol sold to consumers?” Rizwan posted on X.The minister’s office said in a statement that the initial 63 samples were first given to the OMCs’ own laboratories at IOCL, BPCL and HPCL but none of their test reports stated the ethanol percentage.“I want to assure everyone in the country that the government of Karnataka stands by its report and its claim that oil marketing companies are blending more than 20% ethanol in petrol. This can cause serious damage to vehicle engines and place an additional financial burden on ordinary people,” Arshad told reporters.Arshad also rejected the OMCs’ contention that irregularities could have occurred at individual petrol outlets. He added that ethanol blending was a controlled and automated process carried out at terminals and not by petroleum dealers.“This is not an ordinary adulteration issue involving a few outlets. Ethanol has to be blended at the terminals. As far as my knowledge goes, Karnataka has six such terminals where oil marketing companies blend ethanol,” said Arshad.On November 6, Arshad had highlighted the findings of the Karnataka Legal Metrology Department, which tested 63 petrol samples collected from seven districts. According to the reported findings, four out of every five samples contained more than 20% ethanol.The state government has demanded action against the oil marketing companies based on its findings and compensation for consumers via a fund. It has also sought the option of E10 fuel, which Indian vehicle owners used until the mandatory switch to E20.Among the reported readings, an IOCL sample recorded 31.2% ethanol, while HPCL samples registered 30.5% and 27%. BPCL recorded 26.5%, Nayara Energy 26.1% and Shell 25.5%.