Working towards defining control over remote devices at fuel pumps: Legal metrology

After identifying the proliferation of unapproved remote-operated fuel dispensing units at several retail pumps in the state, the Andhra Pradesh legal metrology department has focused its interests on identifying who should have the field-level control over such devices.

This draws attention as the federation of petroleum dealers, during their two-day flash strike in the first week of this month, said that the oil marketing companies were responsible for the contentious remote-controlled fuel dispensing units.

Speaking to Business Standard, state legal metrology controller S Gopal Reddy said "as these devices operate through assigning passwords, we are working towards arriving whether the oil marketing firms or the dealers should access them."

Most of the dealers said the remote devices were being used to automate the fuel storage levels underneath, on a real-time basis.

However, the metrology department claims that dealers have been manipulating the fuel readings up to 25 ml for every litre of fuel delivered to the customers through them.

Reddy said his department had given the March 31 deadline for the petroleum dealers to shift to the department-backed dispensing units. It had booked cases against them under section 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, drawing hefty fines for violating standard measurements.

Around 89 cases, including 21 in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, have been levelled till now and the compounded fines are in the range of Rs 2 crore. The department has, however, handed over the nozzles of 519 dispensing units to dealers after seizing them in the raids.

"We have understood that Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has asked its dealers to stop utilising remote devices and had warned cancellation of licences if found violating its order," he said.

The issue is being seriously considered by the ministry of oil and natural gas after understanding the enormity of irregularities, he added.

The contentious remote-operated fuel dispensing units include Tatsumo and Dresser Wayne dispensing units sourced from Japan, and Brazil and China respectively, which are not approved by the department.