However, the fact that an overwhelming majority of them failed to take necessary measures within the stipulated timeframe lays part of the blame at Ogra's door too for shirking its responsibility to streamline the sector's affairs in a timely fashion. It took a major disaster for the regulator to spur into action. The OMCs are said to seek up to a two-year period to fully comply with the regulatory standards. That seems unacceptable in view of the lurking danger that oil tankers plying on the national highways present to public life every day. There may be better options. The two sides need to sit together to find a solution that keeps the oil marketing activity going without compromising public safety.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017