The Indian Oil Corporation ltd (IOCl) has imposed a fine of Rs15, 36,975 on lPG distributor Golamunda Gramin Vitrak, Jaipatna, Kalahandi for fraudulent lPG connections and suspended its distributorship. Besides, it has lodged a police complaint against the distributor following an investigation.
After complaints of issuance of fake lPG consumer cards in Jaipatna block, the State level Coordinator of the Oil Industry, Odisha, conducted an investigation through a Joint Industry Investigation Team and found that purported connections had been made in January/February 2016, much before launching of the Ujjwala Yojana on May 1, 2016, and, hence nexus with the yojana was ruled out.
It was found that one Rajesh Sahu, in connivance with the Golamunda Gramin Vitrak, had collected Rs3,000 from each of the villagers. In lieu of the collected amount, the villagers had been given a filled cylinder, a pressure regulator, a stove and a lighter, each. But no connection papers (Subscription Voucher and Consumer Book) had been issued to them.
After investigation, the IOCl has decided to shift existing customers to a distributor who will provide service to them by establishing Suvidha Kendras.
The process of terminating the distributorship is also underway and all consumers, who are victims of such malpractices, have been issued new connections without any extra cost, said an official release.
“There will be no tolerance for any such incident in future and all efforts will also be made to educate the general public,” said the releae.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has issued instructions to the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to be vigilant and take strict action on such matters.