Rayagada Sub-Collector reviews functioning of fuel stations, assures consumers to work on pseudo-scarcity of fuel & other violations.
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, May 19: According to Bhimsen Sabar, Sub-Collector, Rayagada, consumers are the kings. If they feel satisfied with any consumer product, there is smooth going. Nevertheless, there should always be a grievance redressal mechanism. During an emergency review meet of functioning of fuel stations in Rayagada town, Sabar has discussed the pseudo-scarcity of fuel in the bunks and expressed his concern over long queue of vehicle owners for fuel in scorching Summer. “As a son of the soil Bhimsen Sabar does not mince words. He has always stood with the truth rather than establishment. A series of pro-people actions taken by him in the past has made a niche for him. This review will certainly go a long way as far as fuel-consumers are concerned”, said a jubilant Ranjan Rath, Organising Secretary of Rayagada Nagarika Mancha.
“Many people do not know that buying petrol in plastic bottle is banned. The Petroleum Act of 1934(Act no. 30 of 1934) states that petrol/diesel in India is not to be sold in loose. A petrol pump must provide free air for commuters vehicle, a first aid box containing basic life-saving medicines, free pure drinking water, free calling service, free clean washroom facility separately for men & women, separate room for lactating mother, a complaint box/register, display the prices of fuel in clear big signs, bills for fuel purchase. Consumers have the right to know about the density of the petrol or diesel they are buying. Every pump must keep a 5-liter conical measuring jar to measure the quantity of petrol. They can ask the worker/manager at the pump for a filter paper to test the quality of petrol or diesel. These are the basic rights, which must be displayed at a conspicuous place with the phone numbers & emails of the owner and officers where grievances can be lodged; but many people do not know their rights and only grumble about the violations. The district administration should initiate a process of consumer awareness”, said Rabindra Patakhandal, Convenor of Odisha Suchana Adhikar Mancha.
Studies have established that longer term smell of gasoline can result in death due to heart failure, pneumonia or lead poisoning. Petrol sniffers also face increased risk of injury including burns and an increased incidence of sexually transmissible infections and unplanned pregnancy. Breathing small amounts of gasoline vapors can lead to nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and breathing difficulties. Unfortunately the workers of the fuel stations are either ignorant of these occupational hazards or the owners do not abide by minimum quality standards in the context of health of their workers.
Workers should be provided with quality uniforms.The QR code instrument should be placed far from the bunk. Rayagada administration must strictly monitor these aspects, said Sri Rashmi Ranjan Dora, Member of Rayagada Society for Fast Justice.
Many consumers grumble that they get less fuel because of wrong measurement as the nozzles eject less fuel than required. Hardly they know the role of the legal metrology department(LMD), which can seize the bunk and register case under section 30 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
Regular monitoring of underground storage of tanks & ancillary components by State Pollution Control Board(SPCB) & Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) is hardly done. There is every chance of ground and water source pollution as the town is surrounded by Nagabali and Jhanjabati river basins. Irregular cleaning of sludge from the tank pollute the fuel, which ultimately makes way to the fuel tanks of consumers’ vehicles. So officials of the departments like LMD, SPCB, PESO, RTO, etc should be involved in the next review & their action taken reports be put in the public domain.
DSP Debajyoti Das, CSO Raj Kishore Panigrahi, ACSO Saroj Sahu, IOCL Manager Bardhan Palia, DCC President Durga Panda, DCC Vice-President Sunil Panda and mant owners of the fuel stations participated. The owners assured to abide by the govt guidelines and district admn’s instructions in the future. Sub-Collector Sabar’s effort is highly applauded by netizens of Rayagada with an expectation of a sustained monitoring of the fuel stations in the town and rural areas.
