No powers to check fakes

KOLKATA: The anti-adulteration cell of the ministry of petroleum and natural gas has no authority to prosecute petroleum dealers selling adulterated fuel. The cell can only file a report with the state government and ask the oil company to take action.
“Though the cell is empowered under the Essential Commodities Act to check any sample based on a complaint, it has no authority to impose a penalty or prosecute offenders,� said G.Prasanna Kumar, director general of the cell. Though the anti-adulteration cell was created in March 2001 with three centres in the northern,western and southern regions, the one in the east started functioning only in 2002.
Since then, it has investigated 89 complaints of fuel adulteration in West Bengal. Adulteration was confirmed in 13 cases while other malpractices were identified in 51 cases. In other eastern states, 37 inspections were carried out. While two reports of adulteration were confirmed, malpractice was identified in 30 cases.
“In West Bengal, the percentage of offence is 71.91, slightly lower than the national average. In 2002, the cell carried out 467 inspections around the country. Of the total samples, 83 failed the test. Other malpractices involve short delivery to consumers. This does not, however, imply that over 71 per cent of all dealers in West Bengal sell adulterated fuel,� Kumar commented.
Though ten cases have been referred to the state government, the cell has no idea whether any action has been taken. Consumers can complain to the district magistrate or directly through its Internet sites at www.antiadulterationcell. com or www.aacindia.org.