Govt to go tough on ‘baby tanks’ in oil tankers: Katti

NT Correspondent

Department of Weights and Measurements and Consumer Affairs will take stern action against those who steal fuel by setting up ‘baby tanks’ within big tankers which ferry petrol and diesel, said Forest, Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Umesh Katti.

According to a Council member, Maritibbegowda, the tanker owners install baby tanks inside their vehicles and steal around 80 to 100 litres of petrol or diesel per trip. These tankers supply fuel to oil depots situated in Devanagondi village of Hosakote taluk in Bengaluru Rural district.

Of the 12,000 litre carrying capacity of the tanker, nearly 80 to 100 litres fuel are stolen every time. The filled petrol/diesel in the baby tankers are shifted to other vehicles on roads near educational institutions. The officials concerned have failed to act on this racket, he said adding that low priced diesel used in ships, are even sold in broad daylight in cities and filled in vehicles. This is causing huge revenue loss to the state government which must be investigated and the guilty punished, he said.

Replying to this, Katti said officials have found baby tanks inside oil tankers in vehicles that transport fuel from HPCL Oil Terminal at Devanagondi village in Hosakote taluk. A case has been registered at Anugondanahalli Police Station in this regard. The stamping by Department of Legal and Weights & Measurement for the transport of fuel in minitankers and other vehicles is necessary. Any dereliction on the part of officials would be viewed seriously and severe action w o u l d b e taken against t h e m , h e warned.