DSO cancels petrol pump licence

VADODARA, Nov 30: The District Supply Office has cancelled the licence of Shubham Petrol Pump in Padra taluka after awaiting reply for ov...

VADODARA, Nov 30: The District Supply Office has cancelled the licence of Shubham Petrol Pump in Padra taluka after awaiting reply for over a year from its owner. The petrol pump is accused under the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Order, 1980.

DSO D G Khachar told Express Newsline that it was probably the first time in the district8217;s recent history that licence of a pump had been cancelled, even though other actions against the accused Bhupatsinh Mangrola 8212; an absconder till date 8212; were still in progress. Officials said the Government will soon attach Mangrola8217;s property.

Khachar said diesel and petrol worth about Rs 2 lakh was seized and a tanker worth about Rs 4 lakh was caught while it was mixing solvent into Shubham Petrol Pump8217;s underground tanks about a year ago in village Mahuwad in Padra taluka. The then DSO Ashok Singh had raided the pump and videotaped the whole illegal procedure. Khachar added that orders to attach Mangrola8217;s property were also being processed with a fresh deadline for him to present himself before the DSO.

Incidentally, at least five persons have so far been arrested under PBM Order this year. The main among those arrested include Kalyan Raolji, owner of Jalaram Petrol Pump, Alamgir village and Prakash Vyas of Paras Petrol Pump, Makarpura. Both were sent to jail under the PBM Order. Adulterated petrol and diesel worth about Rs 5 lakh were seized from their pumps. Apart from the two, Kumarbhai Kamra, a leading kerosene dealer, was also arrested and sent to jail under PBM Order for siphoning into open market kerosene meant for Public Distribution System PDS.

Meanwhile, two more kerosene dealers 8212; Naniram Marwari and Mangilal Marwari 8212; have also been booked for siphoning PDS kerosene into open market in Chhotaudepur taluka. Kerosene worth about Rs 5,000 were seized from them and further action was in progress, Khachar added. The district administration would hold a meeting in about a week8217;s time with civil supplies authorities of Indore district of bordering Madhya Pradesh to examine the nexus of petrol pumps of adjoining areas and solvent suppliers from Vadodara.