Fuel sold on the sly at roadside?
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2021:
Instead of delivering fuel (diesel and petrol) to dedicated customers, some mobile dispenser tankers are selling the same on roadsides and at people's gates.
"All that is needed to get the fuel at your doorstep is to dial the number of the tankers and order the minimum quantity," said a Montu, who owns an NRL pump in Uripok, Imphal on the phone.
After getting reports that some mobile dispenser tankers are dispensing fuel at people's gates in Imphal areas like dispensing 'water', this reporter dialled a number of one of the tankers.
When asked what was required to get the fuel delivered, 'Montu', who picked up the phone said no documents are required but one has to order the minimum quantity or more by dialling the number of the tanker.
In Greater Imphal areas, one has to order a minimum of 50 litres in case of diesel.
People from areas beyond Greater Imphal area, for example from Bishnupur have to order a minimum of 500 litres of diesel.
People can also order petrol and the minimum quantity should be 100 litres in Greater Imphal areas, Montu said.
When asked where the tankers upload the fuel from, he said the tankers load fuel from some pumps.
It may be noted here that amid the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown last year, the Petroleum Minister had launched mobile dispensing tankers to provide diesel for factories and machinery at tea gardens at their doorsteps.
Officials at the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) said to provide the delivery service, one has to submit the list of the beneficiaries (delivery points) to Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, Ministry of Petroleum, Government of India.
The Ministry would then issue a license which contains the list of the delivery points.
Further, the mobile diesel dispensing trucks should also have GPS systems for tracking and locking the dispenser.
The lock on the dispenser would automatically unlock the dispenser only at the authorised delivery points, said the officials.
Moreover, the mobile dispenser trucks cannot load fuel at any pump.
The regular petrol pump's fuel dispenser nozzle would not be able to load the tank.
The mobile dispenser tanker trucks can only load at the pumps which have the loading platforms, added the officials.
Meanwhile, whether the mobile diesel dispenser tankers have the required license and what authorities are going to intervene and oversee their services is not clear.