Question : RETAIL OUTLET BY HPCL AND BPCL

(a) whether some irregularities have been found in the process of modernization of the retail outlets by the HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited) and BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited);

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether BPCL and HPCL have spent crores of rupees for the releasing of advertisements and publicity for the sake of modernization;

(d) the scheme-wise details of the amount spent during the last three years on advertisement/publicity with regard to the marketing of products and modernisation and the details of the companies engaged for advertising services;

(e) whether the higher officials of the organization have been benefited by the amount spent on these heads and some people have been improperly benefited; and

(f) if so the details thereof?

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS & PANCHAYATI RAJ ( SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR )

(a) & (b): No irregularities have been reported in the process of modernization of retail outlets by HPCL & BPCL.

(c) & (d): BPCL and HPCL have not spent on advertisements and publicity for the sake of modernization alone. However, expenditure incurred by BPCL & HPCL during the last three years on advertisement/publicity on marketing of products and sales promotion is as under :-

Name of the Company	Year (Rupees in crores)
2001-02	2002-03	2003-04
HPCL	Nil	15.99	23.82
BPCL	3.66	7.56	14.17