With recent investigations revealing a hi-tech plot deployed by a majority of petrol pumps in Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow to cheat consumers, the state government has now ordered officials to undertake daily monitoring of around 6,600 petrol pumps across the state to ensure they don’t sell less fuel at a higher price.
Raids at petrol pumps by authorities in the past week or so have revealed a ‘cheating chip’ used for fuel theft. The chip would ensure that the amount of fuel actually dispensed was lesser than what was displayed on the machine.
Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar today personally asked all District Magistrates to update him about the checks.
District officials have also been told to conduct surprise checks at petrol pumps after the Special Task Force of police busted the racket involving chips and remote controls and arrested several persons.
If any dispensing machine is found to have compromised chips, it will be sealed. But the entire petrol pump won't be closed. According to an estimate, a single petrol pump annually made around Rs 25 lakh.
The STF had claimed that around 90 per cent petrol pumps in the capital were involved in this illegal activity.
