160 petrol, diesel outlets shut for malpractices in India

Several petrol and diesel retail outlets across the country are involved in malpractices such as under-measurement and adulteration of transport fuels. In a bid to keep such malpractices under check the licenses of a total of 160 petrol and diesel retail outlets were terminated by the government. 

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that oil marketing companies have terminated 160 retail outlets for such irregularities during the last three years and current year (April-June).

The minister said in the last three years, state-run oil marketers - Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum - have detected under-measurement in 3,516 retail outlets and adulteration in 195 units.

Pradhan further stated that in case of proven cases of under-measurement and adulteration, there is a provision to cancel the licence of such retail outlets under Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG)/Dealership Agreement.

The MDG provides for termination of outlets in the first instance itself for serious malpractices like adulteration, tampering of seals and unauthorised fittings/gears in the dispensing units and graded penalties for other malpractices.

The minister further stated that other initiatives to prevent irregularities in retail outlets include automation, third-party certification of retail outlets and monitoring of movement of tank trucks through global positioning system.

Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Maharashtra topped the list of states where petrol and diesel retail outlets were involved in malpractices.