TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Vigilance department has been asked to investigate into the financial assets of the legal metrology department inspectors, following an extortion complaint from petrol pump owners, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
Parrikar also assured the House that inspection of all the petrol pumps would be done across the State to identify pilferage of petrol. He was replying to the question raised by BJP legislator Benjamin Silva, who sought to know whether metrology inspectors carry out inspections of petrol/diesel pumps to identify the pilferage.
Silva also raised questions over the conduct of inspectors claiming that ‘most are indulging in extorting money from the petrol pump owners’.
“I am aware about the situation. I too received complaints from some tanker owners that inspectors demand money for carrying out calibration of tanks. I have asked ACB to investigate the assets of the inspectors…their property…houses…if require conduct raids also,” Parrikar, who is also Minister for Legal Metrology said.
As per the information, there are 11 sub stations of legal metrology department with eight inspectors been deployed on duty. Parrikar said that government is in process of filling the three vacant posts and if required more inspectors would be recruited with two inspectors each for big talukas such as Tiswadi, Salcete, Bardez.
Participating in the discussion, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo brought to the notice of the House about large scale smuggling of petrol into the neighbouring states from the petrol pumps situated along the state borders. He said that since petrol is sold at a lesser price in Goa, people smuggle petrol to neighboruing States like Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Replying to the same, Chief Minister said that legal metrology department has no jurisdiction to control the supply or smuggling of petrol to the vehicles of neighbouring State. He said that as per the Petroleum Act, people are allowed to legally take petrol in ‘cans’ upto certain limit.
