DIMAPUR, MARCH 6 (MExN): Caught sleeping, the state government on Tuesday inspected a number of fuel stations in Dimapur following the revelation by the NSCN (IM) that petroleum adulteration is being practiced unchecked in Dimapur. The NSCN (IM) in a disclosure made public on February 25 had revealed the unearthing of fuel adulteration rackets. It had also revealed the nabbing of one ‘Noel’ alleged to have connection with the adulteration racket while naming several persons running the illicit trade, and retail outlets being supplied with the contaminated petrol and diesel fuel.
A red-faced state government, in the aftermath, had hurriedly constituted a three-member inquiry committee to probe the illicit oil affair. The committee is headed by Ramongo Lotha, IAS, Additional Secretary to the Government of Nagaland with the Joint Controller of Legal Metrology and the head or a representative of the Dimapur district administration as members.
The committee assisted by officials from the department of Legal Metrology, police, district administration and experts from the Indian Oil Corporation inspected certain fuel retail outlets alleged to be involved in the adulteration racket. State coordinator of the IOC, V. Dutta was also a member of the inspection team.
Chairman of the inquiry panel, Ramongo Lotha briefing the media following the inspection disclosed that fuel samples from four petrol pumps were collected. The names of the petrol pumps in concern were not disclosed. In the disclosure made by the NSCN (IM), seven retail outlets were named – six from Dimapur and one in Kohima. It had also named some agencies, namely – “Srikant, Gunapati, Lal Mohan, Dinanath and Pandit, Nirmal Jain and Santu Jain” – alleged to be the suppliers.
The samples will be sent for laboratory tests. The result or report of the analysis (paper-filter test for petrol and density tests for diesel) will determine the quality of fuel being dispensed by the petrol pumps, Lotha said. Remedial measures, if any, will be based on the results, he added. The samples collected today are to reach the laboratory within 10 days. How long the test results will take to reach the committee will depend on the schedule of the laboratory.
The petrol pumps under the scanner are franchises of IOC, NRL and Essar. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, the quantum of punishment for defaulters found guilty will be immediate termination of trade licence and monetary penalty running upto Rs. 20 lakh.
Every district to have quality monitoring committee
Lotha further disclosed that ‘vigilance commissions’ to monitor fuel standard will be set up in every district. The ‘commissions’, when established will be headed by the heads of the districts’ administrative set up.
