Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Despite adequate fuel stock in the city and rural areas, why are long queues forming at petrol pumps? Why are tankers being withheld even after pump operators have paid advance amounts? Raising a series of such questions, district collector Deelip Swami on Friday grilled sales representatives of BPCL, HPCL, and IOCL, along with petrol pump operators. However, the companies failed to provide clear answers regarding the exact issues in supply.
The collector warned that if companies and pump operators attempt to inconvenience citizens through such alleged collusion, strict action will be taken under the Petroleum Act against companies and under the Essential Commodities Act against pump operators. A meeting of petroleum companies and distributors was held at the Collector’s office on Friday.
District supply officer Pravin Phulari, accounts officer P.P. Holkar, assistant supply officer Sandeep Shinde, along with representatives from Bharat Petroleum (Shashank Tiwari), Hindustan Petroleum (Ajaykumar Sinha), Indian Oil (Ganesh Khetri), and petrol pump operators’ association members including Aqeel Abbas, Zishan Deshmukh, Ganesh Darkh, Rajendra Saluja, Navjinder Singh, Deepak Sonawane, and Vishwajit Karanjikar were present.
Targets putting pressure on pump operators and citizens
Fuel distribution companies are reportedly supplying petrol where diesel is demanded and diesel where petrol is required. Additionally, pump operators are allegedly being forced to purchase and sell other company products. Operators presented evidence to the Collector showing that even after paying advance amounts, tankers are not being dispatched. In some cases, payment for three tankers results in only one being delivered, with the rest kept on hold. However, company representatives claimed that supply is regular.
City categorisation causing supply issues
Supply problems have been reported from Panewadi and Manmad. Cities classified under A-plus and A categories are not facing issues. Discussions in the meeting suggested that this classification is causing irregularities in petrol and diesel supply.
Rising crude oil prices affecting economics
Due to the war in Gulf countries, crude oil prices have reportedly tripled. Companies are facing losses as fuel prices have not increased accordingly, affecting their financial viability. This is believed to be one of the reasons why companies are restricting fuel supply.
Dispute between company representatives and distributors
In front of the Collector, company representatives and fuel distributors engaged in heated arguments. Company officials failed to provide technical clarity. The Collector intervened and warned of legal action. It was difficult to determine who was telling the truth during the meeting, and the session concluded with a strong warning from the administration.
More pumps than capacity, supply unchanged
The number of petrol pumps in the city has exceeded capacity, with around 105 pumps currently operational. However, the fuel supply remains the same as when there were only about 60 pumps. This mismatch between the number of pumps and the unchanged supply is also contributing to the perceived shortage.
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