150 petrol pumps shut because of mixing

About 150 petrol stations have been shut in India as they have adulterating fuel that is being retailed from the franchise.

These pumps have just got their license cancelled, Parliament was informed on Monday.

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

“In case of proven cases of under-measurement and adulteration, there is a provision to cancel the licence 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,” he said.

“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 (GPS),” the minister added.

The states that topped this list were Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Maharashtra where fuel mixing was the highest. It is good to see the government take some action against those who sell us with adulterated fuel, as it is harmful for the engine and the environment too.