Pipeline pilferage becomes serious problem

India’s Petroleum Ministry, in a serious bid to ruthlessly tackle oil pipeline pilferage by organized gangs of criminals and anti-social elements, has suggested several amendments to the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Rights of User Inland) Act of1962. The onshore cross country pipelines are laid underground at a depth of about 1.5 meters in a corridor of about 18 meters wide and are operated normally at high pressure. “The present sections 15 and 16 of the Act have not been a deterrent to the criminals from committing the offenses of theft and thus oil companies made a strong pitch for amendments to the existing sections by making it more stringent,” sources said. The ministry noted that the pilferage has serious repercussions. (June 13, 2008)