Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 9
During an awareness campaign on quality and quantity demonstration of fuel held at Dimapur today, customers were encouraged to check the quality and quantity of fuel at any outlet and report it to the authorities for any grievances.
The first of its kind demonstration organized by the Petroleum Dealers’ Association Dimapur (PDAD) was held at Lifeline Enterprises, 3rd Mile, near ARTC Dimapur, with DC Dimapur, Sushil Kumar Patel as the special guest.
A representative of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited demonstrated on how to check the quality of petrol and diesel at fuel stations. One of the tests for petrol included the Whatman filter paper test which can be done by dropping few drops over it.
“Pure petrol should not leave any stain or residue on the paper however if there is any residue or stain over it then the petrol has been adulterated,” said the BPCL demonstrator. He urged customers to report cases of paper filter test being failed in fuel stations to the Legal Metrology Department or administration, informing that such test failures would result in direct termination of the dealership.
Another quality check for petrol and diesel is using hydrometer available at fuel outlets. The demonstrator said that the density recorded should be converted to 15 degree centigrade using the conversion chart. After the conversion, the reading should be between 743.3 to 749.3 points, which means the temperature is within the prescribed range indicating that the fuel is pure. However, the demonstrator said that a variation of 3 points was allowed but difference should not be more than + or - 3 points.
After the temperature is recorded, customers can compare the density with the records shown on invoice/challan.
He suggested that fuel outlets let the first customer of the day do the fuel quality tests and display the results on board everyday to win the trust of the people regarding quality of fuel.
A demonstration on checking quantity of fuel was presented by the Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection Department.
The Assistant Controller of the department informed that all fuel outlets should have the 5-litre working standard capacity measure through which the customers can check whether they are receiving the correct quantity of fuel. However, he added that 25ml more or less quantity was permissible as per rules which describe the case as “permissible error.” He said the 5-litre capacity measure would be verified once in a year and stamped along with the year and provided a certificate.
Addressing the gathering, DC Dimapur, Patel lauded the PDAD for organizing the awareness programme at a time when people were losing trust on the quality and quantity of fuel. He termed the customers as “fragile” and that they hardly go back to the fuel stations which deliver inferior quality or less quantity of fuel to them. Patel said a customer gets affected from two sides –from their vehicles being damaged and the money lost when fuel is adulterated or delivered in short.
PDAD President, Neingutoulie Kenguruse who chaired the programme in his welcome address admitted that petroleum was either adulterated or not fully delivered some years back. However, he maintained that good quality fuel was now being supplied to customers.
