New Delhi: Oil companies have taken over 467 petrol pumps and gas agencies while terminating 2,131 out of the 3,565 allotments cancelled by the Prime Minister following allegations of favouritism in their award.

Oil companies have till date sealed 263 petrol pumps, 197 gas agencies and seven kerosene dealerships.

While various courts across the country have given interim orders in case of 729 allotments, state-run oil companies have cancelled 941 petrol pumps, 1,043 domestic cooking gas (LPG) agencies and 147 kerosene dealerships as on August 19, 2002, highly placed sources said.

Of the 2,131 allotments cancelled, 288 petrol pumps, 541 gas agencies and 44 kerosene dealerships were commissioned while in the case of remaining only letter of intents (LoI) were issued, sources said.

"Cancellation of dealerships where only LoI has been issued won't be a problem but in case of commissioned outlets compensation may have to paid in cases where retail outlet/gas agencies sites are owned by the dealers," they said.

Of the 3,565 dealerships which have to be cancelled, 979 petrol pumps, 1,162 LPG agencies and 105 kerosene dealerships have already been commissioned while LoIs have been issued in case of 681 petrol pumps, 532 gas agencies and 106 kerosene dealerships.

Sources said that oil companies have filed 3,067 caveats in Supreme Court, 3,683 in High Courts and 71 in other courts while the request for clubbing of all cases arising out of the order will come up for hearing in the Supreme Court on August 26, they said.

PTI