Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said strict action will be taken against those found guilty. He said licence of petroleum dealers will be cancelled if they were found flouting marketing discipline.
Days after Uttar Pradesh petrol pumps were caught dispensing less fuel using remote-controlled electronic chips, Centre has decided to conduct surprise checks at fuel stations across the country.
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said strict action will be taken against those found guilty. He said licence of petroleum dealers will be cancelled if they were found flouting marketing discipline.
“Strict action will be taken against those found guilty of tampering with fuel calibration. Those dealers violating the marketing discipline guidelines (MDG) will also face strict action mounting to even termination of licences,” Pradhan told media persons here.
The move came days after Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) conducted raids on petrol pumps in Lucknow and seized remote-controlled electronic chips installed inside fuel disbursing machines which dispensed 60 ml less petrol per litre. Remote controllers were also recovered from the managers of nine petrol pumps.
STF had found the petrol pumps reaping profits using chips which cost about Rs 3,000 each. STF had also arrested a person who had developed the chip which was installed in the petrol dispensers to cheat customers.
It was estimated that with the help of the chip the petrol pump owners earned profits to the tune of Rs 14 lakh per month.
Pradhan said all fuel stations in Uttar Pradesh will be re-assessed by a team comprising representatives from various state government’s departments and oil marketing companies.
The minister informed that of nine guilty fuel stations, three belonged to Indian Oil Corporation while six of them were affiliated to Bharat Petroleum ltd. He said that two officials of state-owned fuel retailers have been suspended following the raids.