To stop pilferage of fuel from state government buses, Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Thursday formed the state and depot level teams to conduct continuous raids in the State. While the three state-level teams have been asked to report directly to the Transport Minister, the Depot level teams—three each per depot — will report to the concerned general or depot managers.
“In various meetings, I had sought cooperation from the officials, drivers, and conductors to stop the fuel pilferage, but reports of fuel pilferage are being received despite this all,” said the Minister.
The Minister said that the state-level checking teams have been asked to conduct raids anywhere and anytime and to report directly to him. Similarly, during their eight-hour rotation duty in a day, all three teams at the depot level will keep a strict vigil to catch fuel theft from the buses coming and going and staying at night at the respective bus stand and workshop and will report to the concerned General or Depot Manager.
“All the General or Depot Managers have already been given written instructions to form three teams each of inspectors and sub-inspectors at the depot level,” said the Minister, adding that General or Depot Manager will ensure to furnish report of depot level teams to the head office fortnightly.
The Minister also instructed all the General or Depot Managers to personally check the bus stand and workshop thrice a week (that is Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) and submit the report regarding fuel pilferage cases if reported to the Managing Director.
“The performance of the checking teams will be observed from time to time by the head office teams and if any case of fuel theft noticed by the head office checking teams, the entire responsibility will be on the checking teams deputed at the respective bus stand and the concerned general or depot manager,” the Minister made it clear.
The Minister said that if any officer or employee of the depots wants to give information confidentially about the fuel pilferage, he can give information on telephone number 0172-2704790 or email on dir.tpt@punbus.gov.in.