Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister M Veerappa Moily informed the Lok Sabha on Monday that public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs), namely Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) have conducted 3,64,471, 1,38,575 and 97,629 inspections respectively during the last three years and current year (April-December 2012).
During these, 12,487 number of irregularities or malpractices have been established against the retail outlets of the oil marketing companies, he said in a written reply.
Moily explained that the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, issued by the Union government under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, provides for punitive action in malpractices such as adulteration.
The public sector oil marketing companies also 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.
The Marketing Discipline Guidelines 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.
The government has also taken a number of initiatives, viz. automation of retail outlets, third party certification of retail outlets, and monitoring of movement of tank trucks through global positioning system (GPS) to check various irregularities/ malpractices at retail outlets of various OMCs.
During these, 12,487 number of irregularities or malpractices have been established against the retail outlets of the oil marketing companies, he said in a written reply.
Moily explained that the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005, issued by the Union government under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, provides for punitive action in malpractices such as adulteration.
The public sector oil marketing companies also 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.
The Marketing Discipline Guidelines 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.
The government has also taken a number of initiatives, viz. automation of retail outlets, third party certification of retail outlets, and monitoring of movement of tank trucks through global positioning system (GPS) to check various irregularities/ malpractices at retail outlets of various OMCs.