Checking drive : Petrol pumps of UP figure on government's agenda

Lucknow: Sensing the wrath of the people of the state over recent cases of petrol and diesel theft, Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday ordered intensive checking of all about 6600 petrol pumps across the state.

The order came close on the heels of sensational revelation by UP Special task Force (STF) which detected short-measuring by 11 petrol pumps in the state capital recently. The STF teams found use of chip in the nozzle of petrol filling pipes due to which the customers were supplied 950 ml of petrol and diesel instead of one litre.

Admitting this could be just a tip of the iceberg, the UP government laid out a plan to launch special checking drive to curb the menace. The action of STF followed a lot of hue and cry over social media platforms with the people demanding conclusive action against the erring petrol pumps.

The decision was taken during a meeting helmed by UP Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar and was attended by Ashutosh Jindal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Principal Secretary (Home) Debashish Panda, DGP Sulkhan Singh, ADG (Law and Order) Aditya Mishra and senior officials of concerned oil companies. The meeting was followed by a video conference through which, district officials have been directed to raid respective petrol pumps in their districts.

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In an order issued by UP Chief Secretary , the concerned officials have also been asked to take strict action against those petrol pump owners found guilty of duping customers.

The questions are being asked as to how the previous Akhilesh Yadav government was apathetic towards the rights of consumers and despite a general view , no petrol pump was taken to task before.