The Indian state of Odisha has announced that it will begin strictly enforcing a ban on the sale of gasoline or diesel fuel in plastic bottles and other unauthorized containers, Sambad English reported.
As the outlet explained, the local government cited “serious public safety, fire hazard, and environmental concerns.”
While the sale of “loose” fuel will still be allowed for authorized uses such as powering agricultural equipment, those who need to buy and transport gasoline or diesel fuel in a container will have to do so in approved glass, tin or aluminum containers, according to Reporters Today.
The ban will require fuel stations to display a sign that reads, “Petrol/Diesel shall not be sold in plastic bottles or unauthorized containers. Violators will be prosecuted.”
The ban will be enforced with a zero tolerance policy against both licensed petrol stations and those who make money by selling petrol and diesel on the streets or in unauthorized shops, according to Reporters Today.
Storing gasoline in plastic containers not specifically designed for this purpose is a safety and environmental hazard for several reasons.
First, gasoline is very corrosive.
“When stored in standard plastic containers, such as milk jugs or plastic drums, gasoline and other fuels can react with the chemical composition of the plastic and break its chemical bonds,” according to The Cary Company, a vendor of packaging and containers.
“These chemical bonds hold the plastic polymers in place to give the plastic its structure and strength,” The Cary Company continued. “The breakdown can also affect the chemical composition of the fuel and cause the fuel itself to become unstable.”
As the storage container breaks, it can lead to gasoline leaks and fires. But those are not the only risks from improperly stored gasoline or diesel fuel. Vapors from fuels are also extremely flammable and must be handled with care.
“Any container designed to hold gasoline must be properly vented to prevent these vapors from building up,” The Cary Company wrote. “The vapor itself is flammable and the pressure can build up leading to a potentially dangerous situation.”
In addition to the inherent risks of storing gasoline or diesel fuel in unapproved containers, government officials have been prompted to take action by recent acts and threats of self-immolation.
Between July 12 and early August, at least four incidents of self-immolation – setting oneself on fire – had occurred in the state of Odisha, and roughly a dozen other individuals had threatened similar actions, The Times of India reported.
Officials hoped to curb this tragic behavior in part by restricting access to the flammable liquids often used during the act.
Those found violating the ban will face fines as well as the potential loss of their license to legally sell petrol and diesel, according to Sambad English.
While the ban has clear public health, public safety and environmental benefits, it is likely to have a negative impact on small-scale, unlicensed vendors who have relied on informal fuel sales to supplement their livelihoods.
Likewise, the ban could harm those who rely on informal fuel sales for their access to needed gasoline or diesel fuel.
For your safety and the safety of those around you, if you need to transport gasoline or diesel fuel in a container for any reason, be sure to use a container designed and approved for that specific purpose.
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