Petroleum and natural gas are checked before distribution, says Dharmendra Pradhan

The Ministry of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have a system in place for regularly checking the quality of petrol and diesel being supplied by them to their retail outlets (ROs) in the country.

Public Sector OMCs undertake regular and surprise inspection of Retail Outlets and take action under the provisions of the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) and Dealership Agreements against the outlets found indulging in irregularities/malpractices like adulteration, short delivery etc.

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

Other initiatives to prevent irregularities in retail outlets include Automation of Retail Outlets, Third Party Certification of Retail outlets and Monitoring of movement of tank trucks through Global Positioning System (GPS).

The Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005 issued by the Central Government under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 provides for punitive action against malpractices such as adulteration.

Provisions are also available in the contractual documents and administrative guidelines to prevent and punish malpractices.

A Quality Control Cell is also functional in each of the Public Sector OMCs which carries out surprise inspections at ROs for checking various irregularities including adulteration.