Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) today sealed Baglamukhi Oil Stores at Sano Bharyang in Kathmandu for cheating the customers. "The fuel store misused software in the digital dispensing system to cheat customers by giving them up to 3.2 per cent less petrol than they paid for," according to the bureau's director general Bishwo Babu Pudasaini.
The system had been tampered with, he said, adding that the system operates in normal mode when the attendants give general instruction to the software just to avoid scrutiny by the government monitoring team.
Three years ago, some fuel stations in Kathmandu Valley were found using chips and remote control to cheat the consumers. "The bureau grilled Baglamukhi Oil Stores as we have received complaints from the motorists," he said, adding that the bureau had cross checked with other petrol pumps which have been using similar digitalised dispensers to confirm the cheating. "The proprietor of the fuel store will face action under the new Civil Code, if he is found guilty, apart from seizing the operating licence."
There are around 120 petrol pumps in the Valley. The bureau suspects that some of them are cheating the customers by manipulating the digital meter. "The department has also issued circular to petrol pumps not to use technicians until it has completed the investigations of all the petrol pumps in the Valley."
Last month too, the bureau had found similar malpractice in three petrol pumps in Bara district. The bureau is filing cases against these petrol pumps soon. Likewise, the Department of Supply Management and Protection of Consumers Interest has slapped Bhadrakali Oil Store in Gothatar with a fine of Rs 200,000 for giving customers short measure. The pump had tampered with the fuel dispenser to dispense 25-35 millilitres less for every litre of petrol than what customers were paying for.
The system had been tampered with, he said, adding that the system operates in normal mode when the attendants give general instruction to the software just to avoid scrutiny by the government monitoring team.
Three years ago, some fuel stations in Kathmandu Valley were found using chips and remote control to cheat the consumers. "The bureau grilled Baglamukhi Oil Stores as we have received complaints from the motorists," he said, adding that the bureau had cross checked with other petrol pumps which have been using similar digitalised dispensers to confirm the cheating. "The proprietor of the fuel store will face action under the new Civil Code, if he is found guilty, apart from seizing the operating licence."
There are around 120 petrol pumps in the Valley. The bureau suspects that some of them are cheating the customers by manipulating the digital meter. "The department has also issued circular to petrol pumps not to use technicians until it has completed the investigations of all the petrol pumps in the Valley."
Last month too, the bureau had found similar malpractice in three petrol pumps in Bara district. The bureau is filing cases against these petrol pumps soon. Likewise, the Department of Supply Management and Protection of Consumers Interest has slapped Bhadrakali Oil Store in Gothatar with a fine of Rs 200,000 for giving customers short measure. The pump had tampered with the fuel dispenser to dispense 25-35 millilitres less for every litre of petrol than what customers were paying for.
No comments:
Post a Comment