OPERATIONS

MANAGEMENT 20

14

ASSIGNMENT

SUBMITTED BY :Biswajit BhattacharjeeStudent, 2nd semRoll No. 19, AUS

SUBMITTED TO :Dr. Debomalya GhoshAssistant ProfessorAssam University,Silchar

‘’PURE FOR SURE’’ with

Bharat Petroleum

Q. If you were in place of Manjunath, how would you take action against the defaulters, while ensuring your own safety?

A. Shanmugam Manjunath (1978–2005) was a marketing manager (grade A officer) for the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) who was murdered for sealing a corrupt petrol station in Lakhimpur Kheri, UP.

Manjunath did his initial schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya, BEML Nagar, Kolar Gold Fields, Karnataka. He finished his 10th in 1993 and 12th std in science stream in 1995 from the same school. Later on he did his Computer Science Engineering degree from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore, and an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Lucknow.

While working for the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in Lucknow, he had ordered two petrol pumps at Lakhimpur Kheri sealed for selling adulterated fuel for three months. When the pump started operating again a month later, Manjunath decided to conduct a surprise raid around 19 November 2005.

Having not heard from his son for three days, at around 9 that night, his father, M Shanmughan, had sent an SMS: "How are you?". There was no reply because that very night, during his inspection, Manjunath had been shot dead in Gola Gokarannath town of Lakhimpur Kheri.

Life expectancy of a whistle-blower in India is very short. Manjunath, intent on maintaining his integrity and the integrity of the oil, paid for this with his life. We can see from this example, having integrity in a culture that does not value individualism can be dangerous. However, people still continue to expose corruption in India. Sad but this is what our system has cultivated. One honest officer trying to do his job in the right way becomes the victim of the very system he is trying to protect.

Manjunath integrity has served as an inspiration, not only the young people around him but to people at a national level. Manjunath integrity inspires young people. As seen through the case of Manjunath Shanmughan and the Indian Oil Corporation, integrity not only shapes, but is shaped by, many social factors such as defiance, safety, and inspiration. Integrity encourages defiance, it causes people to shape their behavior based on their desire to keep them and their close ones safe, and lastly, integrity inspires others in society to hold themselves to a higher standard as well. May his soul rest in peace.

If I was in the place of Manjunath I might did the same thing what Manjunath had done.

Q. BIS specifies a broad permissible range for each fuel parameter which allows sufficient margin to cushion some amount of adulteration without violating the specifications. What is your reaction to this statement?

A. The quantum of petroleum product utilization in India is increasing due to increase in population, urbanization, development activities and changes in life style. Adulteration is defined as the illegal or unauthorized introduction of foreign substance into gasoline or similar substance, with the result that the product does not conform to the requirements and specifications of the product. As fuel prices rise, the public transport driver cuts costs by blending the cheaper hydrocarbon into highly taxed hydrocarbon. The blending may be as much as 80-90%. Fuel adulteration is essentially an unintended consequence of tax policies and the attempt to control fuel prices, in the name of fairness. Air pollution is the ultimate result. These practices lead to losses in several areas, which include damaging engines and worsening air quality .Evading fuel taxes reduces government revenue. Fuel adulterators are not just cheating consumers. The impure fuel is turning our cities to gas chambers reducing engine efficiency, weakening national productivity and dragging the economy down. Fuel adulteration causes marked effect on the tailpipe emissions of vehicles. Adulteration increases emission of harmful pollutants from vehicles &

worsening urban air pollution that would cause adverse effect on human health. Also Adulteration increases tailpipe emissions of hazardous pollutants causing air borne diseases & green house gases. From the about I came to a conclusion that one should not encourage such practices.

Q. What are your commendations to avoid adulteration of fuel during transportation?

A. Skyrocketing fuel prices is not the only worry that the consumers of India are buoyed down with. The issue of the purity of fuel products, even after paying a steep price for them, is a big cause for concern. Indeed, adulteration of petrol and diesel in fuel bunkers is a flourishing market. here. This long standing malpractice has plagued the Indian market and the transportation and use of adulterated fuel with close substitutes are rampant. Following are the commendations to avoid adulteration of fuel during transportation…

Tankers sealed before leaving Company premises. Tamper proof locking system. GPS technology to monitor Movement of Tank Trucks carrying MS/HSD. Vehicles Mounted Units (VMUs) installed in Tank Trucks (TT) Before decantation of TT Retail Outlet dealer compares challan density and actual density at the

time of receipt. TT sample jointly signed by dealer and transporter retained. When RO samples are drawn, TT samples are also collected. If TT sample fails in Lab test then

action against transporter as per Transport Discipline Guidelines (TDG) is taken.

Q. Why have the other petrochemical companies such as, IOCL, HPCL, IBP, AND Reliance avoided using an explicit quality-related campaign as the one initiated by BPCL?

A. In keeping with its strong customer-oriented philosophy, in 2002 BPCL introduced “Pure for Sure”, a major initiative dedicated to ensure the pure quality and correct quantity of fuel dispensed to the end-customer. The purchase and use of pure fuel gives customers value for money, better mileage, lower expenses for vehicle maintenance, and reduces pollution. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) has commenced a promotional campaign for XtraPremium. HP Gas, the LPG business arm of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, has come out with a scheme, which provides portable weighing scales to delivery boys of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) to reassure consumers about the correct weight of the LPG refill cylinder. Weight campaign is one of the new initiatives undertaken by HPCL as part of its efforts to "create a purposeful relationship" with its consumers. Bharat Petroleum Corporation has intensified its 'pure for sure' campaign by upgrading the quality of its retail pumps. With the ultimate aim to inspire complete trust in its retail outlets, Bharat Petroleum has adopted stringent measures to ensure quality and quantity at every point - right to the customer's fuel tank. To achieve this, two sets of Q&Q measures - 'Input measures', e.g., transportation of fuel to the outlet through pilfer proof padlocked tanklorries, and sealing and calibration of the dispensing units, etc. These special pilfer proof padlocks are provided with a set of two keys - one in custody of the loading location, the other with the dealer, thereby nullifying the risk of malpractice enroute.

Delivery of the right quantity is ensured by comprehensive sealing and calibration of the dispensing units which makes meter tampering impossible.

The 'Output Measures' involve rigorous periodic and surprise checks, regular testing of samples both for clinical and octane number, dedicated mobile vans, etc. Bharat Petroleum has collaborated with an independent global agency 'TUV SEDDEUTSCHLAND INDIA' to build a fully computerised format to be installed at every outlet. Adherence by the supply locations as well as by dealers, to Bharat Petroleum's

enhanced standards will be certified by this German based agency, to promote overall public confidence in regard to the impartial evaluation of the programme. Only those outlets certified by 'TUV' would be eligible to come under the 'Pure for Sure' programme.