CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Police seem to be fueling itself on borrowed money, It has run’ up an deficit of Rs 25 crore in’ bills to private petrol stations for the supply of petrol stations for the supply of petrol, diesel and lubricants in the last one and a half year. The Department has failed to clear its arrears as the Punjab Government imposed drastic cuts on its budget in view of the changed situation in the State. The police had sought Rs 500 crore for the current year but the Finance Department sanctioned Rs 400 crore only, The police vehicles in the state are now being fueled on credit extended by the petrol pumps, The resource crunch is said to S severely affected the movement of the state’s law and order enforcing agency. The night patrol by the police vehicles had to be curtailed to meet the crisis, it is learnt.
The Ludhiana police which owes Rs 1 crore to the petrol dealers tops the list of arrears. Jalandhar and Amritsar are next in line. Officials sources disclosed that the dealers were now threatening to sue the department if it failed to clear the bills in the next couple of weeks.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 9, 1996
