Bills pending, filling stations refuse fuel to police vehicles

Patiala : Though the state government has cleared a proposal to purchase a dozen bullet-proof Land Cruisers for the CM and the Deputy CM worth Rs 25 crore, the law and order situation in the state is virtually running on credit.The state government is yet to clear pending fuel bills worth Rs 4.5 crore, thus over 2,700 petrol pumps have stopped fuel supply to state-owned vehicles. They have also refused to extend them credit for fuelling.The state police force, which is on high alert due to recent terror strikes, is finding it tough to run its police control room (PCR) vehicles.
In certain districts, the motorcycles for patrolling are getting a litre of fuel per day. Many four-wheelers are running on just two litres of fuel – i.e. a vehicle cannot run for more than 15 km, leave aside patrolling of the whole area.“The government has funds worth crores for the Chief Minister Tirath Darshan Yatra scheme, but it fails to release funds for fuel which is essential for law and order duty,” said an SHO.
A majority of new vehicles recently given to the district police wings to ensure more women cops on patrol are lying unused in the police lines due to shortage of fuel.
A senior PPS officer said fuel stations were not extending any credit to the police force and the official police lines fuel pump could cater only to senior officers or escort and pilot vehicles of VIPs.
“Many a time sending a police team to a crime spot becomes difficult and the SHO has to ensure good relations at the local level to fuel vehicles. In these circumstances the government wants to check bribes. It is just not possible,” he said.“Our fuel bills to the tune of Rs 4.5 crore have been pending for the past over two years and despite raising this issue with the government departments numerous times, all we get is an assurance that the bills have been sent to the treasury,” said Punjab Petroleum Dealers’ Association president JP Khanna.
“The treasury has no money for us. Now, we have decided that no dealer will give anymore credit. In some small districts, the DSP or the SHO concerned use their clout or carrot and stick policy to get fuel, but now things are getting out of hand,” he added. Sources say even the night policing project, pet project of the Deputy Chief Minister, is yet to be implemented fully due to shortage of fuel with the district police wings.
Khanna added that they have written to the Chief Secretary and all others for release of pending dues, but to no avail.
Meanwhile, the petrol pumps in all Police Lines that are used to fill police vehicles are also short of fuel as many such pumps owned by the district police wings are yet to clear advance payments against petrol and diesel stocks to the companies.ADGP (provisioning and modernisation) CSR Reddy said the pending dues would be cleared soon. “Don’t worry about the bills as they will be cleared soon and a meeting has already been held on the issue,” he added.