Plan to check pilferage of petroleum products

The Bhubaneswar, India state government is chalking out an elaborate plan to target “dumps” where full scale facility is available to siphon petroleum products from tank trucks. Oil marketing companies (OMCs) sent out the alert about pilfering of petroleum products from tank trucks outside oil depots and public outcry over the activities of the oil mafia in the wake of a brutal attack on a government official in Maharashtra a few weeks ago. It was reported that 55% of kerosene in the State was being diverted for illegal use. The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department has directed all 30 collectors to verify the arrival of kerosene at wholesale points to sub-wholesale and retail points and do random checks by squads. (February 15, 2011)