Taking a cue from Uttar Pradesh, the Delhi government on Monday ordered a crackdown on anti-consumer activities at various petrol pumps in the Capital. The move came after reports of petrol pump owners allegedly duping customers — by installing electronic chips in the fuel dispensing units — surfaced from neigbouring states.
In a review meeting held on Monday, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Imran Hussain emphasised on the need to ensure that citizens obtain accurate and unadulterated quantities of fuel purchased by them.
"I have directed the department to take legal action against the defaulting units. This includes lodging an FIR, sealing of petrol pumps, initiation of prosecution action etc. whatever the case may be," Hussain said.
The Department of Weights and Measures, (also called Legal Metrology Department), has been mandated to ensure that customers get the due value of the cost paid on the commodities including fuels of various kinds.
"It was also conveyed that the department should ensure that petrol pumps maintain specified calibrated measuring instruments and equipment for their availability on demand by the public for on-the-spot checking of the accuracy of quantities of fuel being dispensed," a senior Delhi government official said.
According to officials, the department is also being directed to constitute and dispatch teams in various parts of Delhi for ensuring that petrol pumps are not indulging in unlawful installation of electronic chips in fuel dispensing units or any other similar means.
The crackdown on petrol pumps of the state capital continued for the third consecutive day with the UP Special Task Force and officials of the oil companies checking for tampering of fuel dispensing machines.
Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday ordered an inspection of all petrol pumps in Uttar Pradesh and random checks elsewhere to detect short-selling of petrol and diesel by tampering with the system in dispensing units.
Even on Sunday, two more petrol pumps were seized after they were found guilty of cheating people by installing electronic chip. Out of 13 petrol pumps raided, 11 have been found indulging in malpractices and seized.
And analysis
Thanks to the surprise raids, errant petrol pump owners will be eager to right, tampered with machines.
Officials say further raids will occur in various parts of the Capital.
This will ensure that petrol pump owners will be more likely to go the extra mile to prove that they are honest.
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