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Ajay Uprety
Ajay Uprety

LUCKNOW

Theft of petrol: HC pulls up Yogi government

PTI5_20_2017_000090B Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath meting with administrative officer during his visit in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday | PTI

Lucknow High Court pulled up Uttar Pradesh government for adopting a soft stance towards erring petrol pump owners. Several cases of petrol theft had come to light a few weeks ago in the state. The court did not seem satisfied with the action taken by Yogi government in this regard and summoned the chief secretary.

The court asked the government to furnish details regarding present status of the case and the criminal proceedings initiated against persons involved.

The court was not happy with the a government order (dated May 2, 2017) which mentioned that no action will be taken against pump owners, or occupiers of the pump. Only faulty dispensing units will be sealed. While pulling up the government, the court observed that someone was trying to protect erring petrol pump owners. The court also said that if petrol pump owners threatened to go on strike or resorted to blackmailing tactics, the government should instruct district magistrates to ensure the sale of petrol and diesel.

The bench categorically said that strict action would be taken against those who, in the name of strikes, tried to stop the supply of petrol.

It may be recalled that the UP special task force, in a major operation, had unearthed a massive ‘petrol theft’ in Lucknow, resulting in the arrest of many petrol pump owners.

Preliminary investigation revealed that petrol pump owners of the city were making roughly Rs 200 crore per month.

The theft was being done with the help of hi-tech microchips fitted in the filling machines. These chips help dispense lesser quantity of petrol while the metre shows the exact quantity demanded by the consumer. For instance, if someone paid for five litres of petrol, he might get only 4.5 litres.

Following this, the government started tightening its noose around 6,000 petrol pumps across the state and it came to light that over 90 per cent of petrol pump owners were involved in this theft.

After a couple of arrests were made, petrol pump owners resorted to protests and stopped supply of petrol and diesel at the pumps, creating a very tough situation for commuters. Subsequently, to dilute the crisis, the government came out with the order of sealing dispensing units and avoided arrest of pump owners.

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