Complaints on petrol pump allotment have declined, says govt

Complaints of alleged malpractices in petrol pump allotment have reduced significantly with a transparent system replacing the "subjective process" followed earlier, Government said today.
There has been no cancellation of petrol pumps due to irregularities in allotment by various Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) reported in the last three years, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
The number of complaints relating to alleged irregularities in allotment of petrol pumps have declined since this government came to power, he claimed.
There were just four complaints in the last fiscal, three with Indian Oil Corp Ltd and one with Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd, Goyal said.

The Power Minister, replying on behalf of Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who was not present, said the number of complaints have come down since a "transparent system" is in place. "Now there is no possibility of (even) an MP influencing the allotment process," he said.
Earlier, it was a "subjective process" for the allotment of petrol pumps, he said, adding that a lot of irregularities were noticed due to "some subjective parameters".

As Goyal was replying to questions on behalf of Pradhan, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy asked why was the Power Minister answering the questions.
To this, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she has been informed about it, while Goyal added that the Petroleum Minister has an urgent official work to attend to.

As far as the process of retail outlet dealer association and allotment is concerned, a transparent system of draw of lots/bidding has been introduced for selection of dealers which was previously based on marks and interview system, the Minister said.
No officer from any public sector OMC has been suspended in the last three years for "alleged malpractices in the allotment of retail outlets".
In earlier instances when it was found that there was substance in the complaints, either the merit panel was scrapped or the dealership terminated, he said.
To a query on blackmarketing of petrol and diesel, the Minister said the government has taken stern action, including imposing heavy penalties, on entities indulging in such acts.

On another question, Goyal said oil tankers cannot be given on an arbitary fashion as there was a definite process that is followed.