Govt admits to leakages in petroleum sector, to address it

This country has to upgrade its marketing network. Through massive technological intervention only, this can be solved, says Oil Minister

Government today said it is aware of pilferages in petroleum sector and will come out with a marketing plan to stop it through technological intervention.

"We are aware about the leakages and pilferages. That has to be stopped through technological intervention," Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said in Rajya Sabha.

He said a lot of pilferages and leakages occur in mid-stream and down-stream sector.

"This country has to upgrade its marketing network. We have to modernise ourselves. Through massive technological intervention only, this can be solved. This new government is on the job," Pradhan said.

"We have formed a committee to look into the details. We are coming out with a new marketing plan. Through that, all the answers can be given," he added.

Asked why the government was not passing on the benefits of reduced international oil prices to consumers, the Minister said the policy adopted by the previous UPA government for determining the prices of petrol and diesel was being adopted by this government and the benefit of reduced prices was being passed on as per previous policy.

When a member termed the high taxes imposed by government on petroleum products as "loot", Pradhan lamented that the member considered making roads and creating infrastructure for the poor as loot.