A special drive by the Legal Metrology Department targeting fuel stations in Central Kerala region has found major violations in fuel vending machines.
According to officials, variation in fuel dispensed through 10 nozzles at five petrol bunks was detected during the drive which started on Monday at 9 p.m. and ended on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Among these, five cases were reported from Ernakulam while Palakkad followed close with four cases. The remaining case was reported from Thrissur.
R Ram Mohan, Deputy Controller, Legal Metrology Department, Central Zone, said the inspection followed a tip-off that some fuel stations were engaging in fraudulent practices during night hours.
“Sales persons in the absence of owner or manager tamper with fuel vending machines, and we could detect a variation of up to 140 ml in 10 litres of petrol and diesel. The nozzles that showed variation in the quantity of fuel dispensed have been sealed,” he said.
Law stipulates daily inspection of nozzles at fuel stations using calibrated capacity measure. The practice, however, appeared even unknown to some of the fuel station owners.
Meanwhile, the department has registered nine cases for selling lubricant oil above the maximum retail price.
Cases were registered under various sections of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodity) Rule .
