Question : Pilferage of Oil-Gas

(a) whether the cases of pilferage of oil/gas from refineries, depots and pipelines have come to the notice of the Government across the country during the last three years and the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with losses incurred by the Government/companies from such pilferage during the said period, State/UT/company-wise;
(c) the number of such cases reported along with number of persons found guilty/punished therein and the action taken by the Government against the officials responsible/involved working in Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and upstream companies, State/UT/company-wise; and
(d) the corrective measures taken by the Government to prevent such pilferage across the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) to (c): Details of cases of pilferage of oil/gas from refineries, depots and pipelines in the country as reported/noticed by Oil PSUs alongwith persons found guilty during last three years and current year, is given in Annexure. FIRs are lodged with respective police stations in cases of pilferage of oil/gas from refineries, depots and pipelines which have taken place in different States. The cases are pursued by the concerned Oil PSUs with the State Administration and Police Authorities at different levels.
(d) Following steps have been taken by the Oil PSUs to prevent theft/pilferage of crude oil/gas from refineries, depots and pipelines etc:-
(i). Round the clock monitoring of Pipeline flow and pressure through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) for pipelines.
(ii). Daily foot patrolling by Line Patrolmen (LPM).
(iii). Continuous interaction & sensitizing of villagers along pipeline Right of Way (ROW).
(iv). Continuous monitoring of Repeater cum Cathodic Protection System (RCP) through CCTV based surveillance system.
(v). Issue of pilferages is being taken up at various levels of the police in all the States. Also regular interaction maintained with civil administration.
(vi). Electronic Surveillance ; and
(vii). Patrolling by local police.
Besides, Government has amended the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 to make it more stringent with provision of deterrent punishment for offenders engaged in pilferage and sabotage of petroleum and gas pipelines.