The Hindu : Front Page : Electronic fuel pumps not tamper-proof

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Sunday, Aug 24, 2008
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Electronic fuel pumps not tamper-proof

G. Anand

Software to detect dispensers that have been tampered with

Malpractices detected in retail fuel outlets
New software to be released in November

Thiruvananthapuram: The latest electronic fuel pumps extensively installed at petroleum outlets across the State are not entirely tamper-proof and the computer chip-controlled devices can be reprogrammed to cheat consumers, according to State Legal Metrology Department enforcers.

Law enforcers detected malpractices in fuel retail outlets by verifying whether the volume of the initial 5 units of fuel dispensed by a pump matched its meter reading. (Only this procedure has legal sanction).

Law breakers in the petroleum retail business cheated enforcers (and also consumers) by significantly reducing the outflow of fuel after the initial 5 units were delivered to the customer.

They did this by tampering with the software of electronic pumps with the help of certain dubious technicians.

The fraudulent practice has its origins in Mumbai and is gaining ground in South India.

The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs feels the deceitful practice is widespread and is preparing to counter it by developing a software that would possibly help State Legal Metrology departments detect tampered electronic fuel dispensers.

Meeting held

Leading Legal Metrology experts in India met at the Fluid Control Research Institute in Palakkad district on August 6 to give inputs to those developing the software.

Manufacturers of electronic pumps and representatives of fuel companies attended the meeting. The software will be given to law enforcers in November.

Legal Metrology experts said that fuel pump gauges revolved faster at high voltages, recording faulty readings.

Ideally, petroleum dealers should install voltage stabilizing equipment in their outlets.

Expert advice

They said motorists were likely to get a better deal for their money if they filled their vehicles in the early morning or late night hours, when the evaporation rate of fuel was considerably less.

They said short selling of fuel was more in rural areas and less in cities where competition for customers (chiefly auto rickshaw drivers and two-wheeler riders) was high among retailers.

Last year, as many as 299 pump owners in Kerala were found guilty of short selling fuel.

This year (between April and June) 31 were fined on the same charge.

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