New Delhi: Government-approved testing centres can now scrutinize fuel dispensers for hydrogen, LPG, LNG, and CNG. This adjustment to existing measurement laws, announced recently, broadens the nation's oversight as a shift toward cleaner energy sources gains momentum.
The consumer affairs ministry has amended legal metrology rules to bring hydrogen, LPG, LNG, and CNG fuel dispensers under a mandatory verification framework.
This move opens the door for private labs, deemed qualified, to step in and bolster the country's capacity for measurement checks, alleviating reliance solely on state government resources. The ministry stated these changes aim to allow state legal metrology departments to shift their focus toward more active oversight, enforcement actions, and addressing consumer complaints.
Fee Structure and Private Sector Involvement
Verification fees have been set: Rs 5,000 per nozzle for petrol and diesel dispensers, while the newer categories—CNG, LPG, LNG, and hydrogen—will carry a higher charge of Rs 10,000 per nozzle. These 'Government Approved Testing Centres' (GATCs) are essentially private entities possessing the necessary technical skill to perform these checks, as mandated by the Legal Metrology Act. This framework appears to align with international measurement standards, echoing recommendations from the International Organization of Legal Metrology.
