Imphal, Jul 29: Taking serious note of kerosene not reaching the common people through the proper channel, the State Government has started taking up serious steps to ensure that the same is available to the people at the Government approved rate.

Simultaneously, the State Government has also set its eyes on checking the mass scale fuel adulteration wherein petrol and diesel are spiked with kerosene oil.

Speaking to The Sangai Express an official source said that earlier the State police was unable to crack down on the mass fuel adulteration as well as kerosene being sold in the black market at exorbitant rate as the law was not very clear on the matter.

To counter this the State Government issued an order today, empowering the State police to crack down on fuel adulteration as well kerosene being sold in the black market, said the source.

An order issued by the Principal Secretary AE Ahmed today clearly stated that under Clause 1 of the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001, the police, FCS Director and DCs are empowered to check kerosene transportation, distribution and its sale.

These officials can conduct raid and arrest offenders under the said order.

Though the Government has fixed the rate of kerosene at Rs 10 per litre, the price hovers between Rs 35 and Rs 40 per litre in the black market.

One factor for the shortage of kerosene is fuel adulteration, said the source and explained that to spike the petrol and diesel, the parties concerned buy kerosene oil in bulk for their shady dealings.

This in turn has deprived the needy people of their share of kerosene.

Adulterated fuel is not only sold in the lanes and by lanes of Manipur, said the source and added that even petrol bought from the petrol pumps are found to be highly adulterated with kerosene.

With the State Government establishing the fact that the common people are not getting their due share of kerosene at the Government approved rate, the Government has taken up the task of cracking down on the fuel cartel to check fuel adulteration and pilferage of kerosene oil.

Under Section 2 (A) (8) of the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Essential Commodities Act, petrol, diesel and kerosene are essential commodities and hence action can be taken up against the defaulters under the Essential Commodities Act.

With the new order, the FCS Director and Deputy Director can inspect the transportation, sale and distribution and pull up anyone found violating the laid down norms and regulations all over the State.

DCs, ADCs, SPs, Additional SPs, DSOs, Asst Director of FCS can initiate action against defaulters within their respective districts.

Similarly, SDOs and SDPOs have been empowered to initiate action in their sub-divisions.

Inspectors of FCS and police OCs can also take up action in areas within their jurisdiction.

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