To check fuel pilferage, IOC introduces...New locker system for oil tankers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 21 2015 : In line with a new initiative taken up by the IOC head office, Mumbai specially for oil tankers transhipping diesel and petrol up to Imphal, these tankers have been fitted with a new locker system.

The earlier locker system fitted to the oil tankers were made of iron whereas the new locker system is made of steel.

Along with replacement of the locker system, all the keys have also been replaced, informed an official source.

The new initiative was taken up for 'safety and security', according to IOC sources.

The new locker system is quite effective so far.

Oil tankers which ship in petrol and diesel up to Imphal during the past two months have been fitted with the new locker system.

Tankers engaged in local supply of petrol and diesel are also being fitted with the new locker system and the process is almost complete.

The new keys as well as the earlier ones are made by Godrej company, informed the official source.

Duplicates of the keys used earlier were easily made in the State and these duplicate keys were used in siphoning off petrol/diesel and adulteration of fuel before the oil tankers reach Imphal depot which sometimes led to fire mishaps.

Some oil tanker owners told The Sangai Express, on condition anonymity, that people's oft-repeated complaint about adulteration or inferior quality of fuel has become a thing of the past.

This is because drivers have stopped siphoning off oil and refilling the siphoned off volume with sub-standard oil.

While the quality of fuel has improved considerably, oil tanker drivers have started asking the owners to hike their monthly salaries as well as the daily allowances.

There was no complaint when the owners gave drivers Rs 3500 to meet the expenses of a two-way trip when the former locker system was used.

Nowadays, drivers have started grudging if they are not given Rs 4500 to Rs 5000 for a two-way trip.

Some drivers have even threatened to stop driving oil tankers thereby disclosing the extent of misdeeds they committed when the previous locker system was used.

This does not mean all oil tanker drivers indulged in unethical practices.

There are many oil tanker drivers who are sincere and dutiful.

They are given sufficient journey allowances and monthly salaries, claimed the owners.

In view of the skills of oil tanker drivers particularly those who hail from Manipur, no one can guarantee how long the new locker system would remain effective in preventing oil adulteration, they added.

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