Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a belated pilot project to prevent adulteration in petrol and diesel following the gruesome murder of IOC sales officer S Manjunath in Lakhimpur Kheri recently.

The State Government had been sitting on the Centre's initiative on the pilot project sent in the first week of October. But after the killing, the State Food and Civil Supplies department has made up its mind to launch the project.

According to official sources, to prevent the diversion of kerosene oil for adulteration in petrol and diesel the State Government in association with the PSU oil companies would launch a project for the marketing of kerosene at the block level. The thrust of the project is to prevent kerosene oil from reaching the petrol pumps.

Blue tankers for kerosene

Out of 813 community development blocks in 70 districts of UP, the scheme as pilot project is being launched in 51 blocks in the first phase. The progress of the project would be reviewed after six months. If found successful in preventing the diversion of kerosene to gas stations, the scope of the project could be extended to the entire State.

Sources said to make the diversion of kerosene to filling stations difficult, a separate identity is being given to tankers and barrels for storing and transportation of the `common man's fuel'. Only blue coloured tankers and barrels would be used to store and transport kerosene.

For further enforcing a special identity `Jan Kerosene' would be inscribed on the blue colour tankers and barrels. The oil companies would be solely responsible for the delivery of kerosene at the destined development block headquarters.

UP's monthly quota of kerosene is 1, 32 lakh Kilo Liters (I KL is equal to 1,000 litres). A significant portion of this oil goes to over 2,000 petrol pumps where it is adulterated in petrol and diesel.

IOC sales officer Manjunath lost his life in fighting the lucrative racket controlled by the oil mafia patronised by politicians who own most of over 2,200 petrol pumps in UP.

Sub-wholesale dealers

The Centre had announced to launch this scheme on October 2. The issue was pending before the Food and Civil Supplies department for last two months but after Manjunath's murder, the State government woke up from slumber and process of issuance of notification was expedited.

The notification pertains to the amendment in `Kerosene Control order' issued under the provisions of Essential Commodities Act, thus enabling the oil companies to appoint sub-wholesale dealers at development block level. The oil companies would appoint the dealers in consultation with the district magistrates of the particular district.

Under the pilot project one to ten sub-wholesale dealers are proposed to be appointed at each development block. These dealers would in turn supply the oil to PDS shop owners in villages. -- UNI

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