(FE)
Coming down hard on petrol pump operators, state-run oil marketing companies (OMC) on Tuesday amended the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) enhancing punishment for those found indulging in short delivery of fuels, running automated pumps on manual mode or not providing clean toilet facility.
The penalty in case of short delivery “beyond permissible limit” in the first instance has been raised to Rs 25,000 per faulty nozzle from previous penalty of a simple warning. Second slip within a year would attract a fine of Rs 50,000 and suspension of sale/supply for 15 days. Earlier, this attracted a fine of Rs 10,000. In case of a third violation within the year, the new norms stipulate termination of the dealership whereas previously it would only attract a fine of Rs 25,000 per faulty nozzle.
In case of retailers operating an automated outlet in manual mode without authorisation, the punishment has been monetised at Rs 1 lakh for the first irregularity, Rs 2 lakh with suspension of sale/supply for a week in the second instance and termination for the third occurrence. In the MDG 2012, such violations invited suspension of sales for 15 days, 30 days and termination for first, second and third violations, respectively.
