(a) whether some cases of corruption in public sector oil companies particularly in Indian Oil Corporation have come to the notice of the Government;
(b) if so, the number of cases reported during the current year till date and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
(c) the concrete measures taken by the Government to check corruption in Public Sector Oil Companies?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS & PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) & (b) : Yes, Sir. On the basis of complaints received in the Ministry/Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and surprise checks, scrutiny of contracts carried out by Vigilance Units of PSUs, 504 cases of irregularities, including corruption in PSUs, have been reported during the current year. Out of these, 401 cases relate to Indian Oil Corporation. Complaints so received are enquired into or investigated through the Vigilance Units of PSUs or referred to CBI depending upon the nature of the complaints or the outcome of preliminary investigation and punitive action is taken as provided for in the conduct rules or the Law.
(c): The systems and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated in the Ministry as well as in PSUs to strengthen the Vigilance administration. It has been constantly impressed upon PSUs that they should implement, in letter and spirit, measures suggested by Central Vigilance Commission for enhancing greater transparency in commercial decisions making. Some of the measures to arrest the menace of corruption are as under:
i) initiation of E-payments;
ii) wide publicity to the tenders including use of the website for placing tenders;
iii) close monitoring of the award of jobs on a nomination basis;
iv) establishment of quality control cells;
v) greater stress on vigilance awareness;
vi) carrying out regular and surprise inspections by the Vigilance Wing;
vii) review of the delegation of powers;
viii) scrutiny of Annual Property Returns; ix) preparation of agreed list and list of officers of doubtful integrity for keeping a special watch on their activities.