Karnataka raids 805 petrol pumps, finds measurement lapses at 768
The minister said a toll-free helpline, 1800 599 1100, has been opened for registering complaints. Consumers can call this number to lodge a complaint or submit their complaints via email at clm-Im-ka@nic.in
Officials from the Legal Metrology Department carried out large-scale surprise raids on fuel stations across the state, uncovering shocking results: 95 per cent of the petrol pumps inspected were dispensing fuel with inaccurate measurements.
At a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday (September 16), Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad revealed the complete details of the raids and the stringent action the government plans to take next.
101 petrol pumps penalised
A total of 5,946 petrol bunks are currently operating in the state. Acting on the minister’s directive to strictly carry out reverification of fuel dispensing units at petrol bunks, officials have conducted continuous inspections over the past eight days at 805 petrol pumps belonging to major companies across all districts. Of these, as many as 768 bunks were found to have accuracy discrepancies.
Also read: Karnataka MLA’s niece got Rs 70,000 monthly govt salary without going to work
Under Central government regulations, a variation of only 0.5 per cent is permissible in five litres of fuel. In cases of minor discrepancies, the operators have been warned to rectify them immediately. However, the minister has clarified that cases have been filed and penalties imposed without leniency against 101 petrol and diesel pumps where discrepancies and measurement errors far exceeded the permissible limit.
Online dashboard and helpline for consumer protection
The state government has taken a significant step to curb fraud at fuel stations and ensure transparency. The state will launch an online dashboard providing government-certified information about every petrol pump in Karnataka shortly.
This will put essential and accurate information at consumers’ fingertips. In addition, a dedicated system has been put in place to enable consumers to directly register complaints regarding any discrepancies in fuel measurements or any other issues related to legal metrology.
The minister said a toll-free helpline, 1800 599 1100, has been opened for registering complaints. Consumers can call this number to lodge a complaint or email it to clm-Im-ka@nic.in.
(This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka)