KATHMANDU, Oct 19: Consumers have fallen victim to fraudulent practices at a petrol pump operated by the Armed Police Force (APF), one of the nation's security agencies responsible for upholding peace and order. A recent inspection conducted by a central monitoring team on Wednesday revealed malpractice at the Halchowk fuel center, which is run by the APF at Swayambhu, Kathmandu.
Pradyumna Upadhyay, a joint secretary overseeing the monitoring efforts via the "Hello Sarkar" initiative by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, reported the irregularities. He stated, "When measuring diesel from Halchowk fuel nozzles, it was discovered that consumers were receiving less than the permissible amount." The petrol pump in question had three nozzles, one of which was found to be defective and subsequently sealed.
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In another instance of deceptive practices, a different petrol pump was also sealed during the Wednesday inspection. Biny Shrestha of the Nepal Oil Corporation, a member of the monitoring team, confirmed that the Shyam Oil Store in Kalanki had been sealed. Upon inspection, all nozzles at the petrol pump were found to be damaged and leaking, according to Upadhyay.
This crackdown on fraudulent activities at petrol pumps began on Tuesday when the Valley Baba Suppliers in Gairigaun, Tinkune, had its operations suspended due to under-dispensing fuel. The central monitoring committee initiated these efforts in response to numerous complaints received through the "Hello Sarkar" platform regarding fraudulent practices at petrol pumps in the Kathmandu Valley.
The monitoring process involves a joint effort by various government entities, including the Prime Minister's Secretariat, Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology, National Vigilance Center, District Administration Office, Kathmandu, Department of Commerce, and the Nepal Oil Corporation.
On Tuesday, they monitored three petrol pumps, and on Wednesday, they scrutinized six more. Joint Secretary Upadhyay disclosed that most of the pumps were found to be dispensing less than the standard quantity of petrol or diesel.
