Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Jul 13: Petro cards, which would not only make it easier for police vehicles to refill on fuel but also enhance transparency, were distributed for the first time to the western range police police department here on Sunday July 13.

B Ramanath Rai, the district incharge minister, inaugurated the programme and distributed the cards.

Addressing the gathering, Rai said, "Police department gives high importance to discipline. The department personnel should work intelligently and create awareness about the law among the people."

He said that the department should work to uphold the communal harmony in the district.

"I have close relationship with the 'khaki' (uniformed) departments. Now I have got an opportunity to serve the forest department as a minister," he added.

Western range IGP Amrit Paul said, "Technology has invaded every aspect of human life. It can be used for good causes as well as for bad intentions. Most of the times it creates turmoils and problems in society. It should be used for the betterment of the society."

He added that technology helped in protecting the environment as it did not rely on using papers.

MLA Shakuntala Shetty said, "The police department is the only one which takes maximum flak from the people, yet provides protection to them. In Puttur constituency there are 118 police quarters without adequate facilities. Hence I have written to the government asking to provide sufficient facilities.

"When police prsonnel get a call from the department they ignore even their private lives. Police department personnel should uphold the dignity of their uniform," she added.

She also said that the staning committee of legislative assembly on women and child welfare department had urged the government to ban mobile phones in schools and colleges.

J R Lobo said that modernized technology would help to maintain transparency in the system.

SP Dr Sharannappa said, "This card will be helpful in maintaining transparency. Police vehicles can refill fuel with the help of this card. We have a tie-up with Indian Oil Corporation. This technology will help in reducing the paper work and save time. Presently the cards are issued in 149 districts."

About Petro cards

This is a new system introduced by the Dakshina Kannada district police to fuel the department vehicles. Earlier, the police vehicles fuelled in petrol bunks designated by the district police office. This involved much paper work, also, the bill was not paid on time. Hence, as a solution to this problem district police department introduced the Petro Card.

This card has been obtained from Indian Oil company. Money will be deposited to the card by the district police department office. Later drivers can fuel the department vehicles with the help of card. The petrol bunk owners will get the money immediately.

This technology will reduce man power and paper work. Even the fuel utilization will be transparent. Officers and staff can use this card to fuel the police vehicle during duty hours in IOC petrol bunks in any part of the country. With the help of card the the department can easily keep track of the amount of the fuel used every month, and for what purpose. This system is fully computerized. If the card is lost, it can be blocked to prevent its misuse.

In Dakshina Kannada there are 43 IOC petrol bunks. IOC has provided free Petro cards to Dakshina Kannada police, for 149 department vechicles.