The Madurai Corporation has deputed special teams consisting of its senior officials to conduct surprise checks and find out if diesel theft or misuse is happening at its lorry parking lots or water pumping stations across the city.
Corporation vehicles and diesel filling records were thoroughly inspected during the early morning checks done randomly on Wednesday.
To start with, the team led by Corporation Assistant Commissioner (Personnel) S. Chellappa and Assistant Engineer (Motor Vehicles) Amar Dheep undertook the inspection at various locations in Zone-2 and Zone-3 of Madurai Corporation.
The inspection of diesel stock and diesel records was undertaken during the four-hour inspection following instructions from Corporation Commissioner C. Kathiravan.
“We checked 33 garbage collection vehicles and five pumping stations but could not find anything suspicious. The aim is to prevent diesel theft in our corporation lorry sheds and inspections will continue in coming days,” Mr.Chellappa told The Hindu after the inspection, which began at 5 a.m.
The water pumping stations at Sellur, Santhapettai, Keeraithurai, Ponmeni and Periyar Bus Stand are also under scanner. “Our inspection will put the staff and drivers on alert. Next time, the timings of checking will be changed so that the true picture can be known. All the four zones would be covered in a phased manner,” Mr. Chellappa said.
A press release issued by the Corporation said that the stock records of diesel used for generators in pumping stations had been verified by the officials. “Similar inspections will be carried out to monitor the use of diesel by corporation lorries,” Mr. Kathiravan said.
