Chandrapur petrol pumps deny basic amenities, Shiv Sena gives administration 7 days to act
Shiv Sena and the Grahak Sanrakshan Samiti have demanded raids and penalties on pumps that deny free amenities and charge for air, threatening a dharna if no action follows in a week.
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Petrol pumps in Chandrapur district are not providing the basic amenities due to customers and are openly charging them money, it has been alleged. The complaint says the clear orders of the Central and state governments and the rules of oil companies have been ignored. The Grahak Sanrakshan Samiti and the Shiv Sena Bharatiya Kamgar Sanghatana today submitted a detailed legal memorandum to the Chandrapur District Collector, the District Supply Officer and the Assistant Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, demanding strict action.
Santosh Lilabai Dashrath Parkhi, Shiv Sena taluka chief and district president of the Grahak Sanrakshan Samiti, issued a clear warning. He said that if strict action is not taken against the guilty pump operators within 7 days, an intense dharna agitation will be held in front of the Collector's office. A "Bhagwi Shikayat Peti" (saffron complaint box) campaign will also be launched at every pump.
According to the memorandum, when dealers are given licences and a good per-litre commission, they are legally bound to provide customers 6 basic amenities free of cost, without hindrance and in clean condition. The memorandum cites the Petroleum Ministry's Dealer Selection Guidelines 2023, the oil companies' Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2023 (MDG), Universal Service Obligation (USO) orders, the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Order 2005, the Essential Commodities Act 1955, the Legal Metrology Act 2009 and the Consumer Protection Act 2019. Under the rules, denying these facilities is treated as a serious offence under "unfair trade practice". The memorandum also cites a consumer commission in Kozhikode, which fined a pump Rs 1.65 lakh for not providing the facilities.
A joint team of the Grahak Sanrakshan Samiti and Shiv Sena visited and inspected more than 50 petrol pumps in Warora, Ballarpur, Rajura, Gondpipri, Brahmapuri and Chandrapur city. According to the memorandum, several shocking findings emerged. About 99 per cent of the pumps had no clean drinking water, or the tap of the water filter was found locked. Toilets for women and men are in an extremely filthy and foul-smelling condition. In many places a "closed" board is put up and the toilet is locked. Women customers in particular are flatly refused use of the toilets, which the memorandum describes as a violation of human rights.
The biggest irregularity is said to concern air. The free air compressors provided by the companies are deliberately kept shut, and private persons have been given space on the pump premises on rent. Customers are being illegally charged Rs 10 to Rs 30 for air there. According to the memorandum, this is a serious offence that can lead to cancellation of the licence. In addition, when customers ask for the "complaint book" to register a complaint, staff abuse them and drive them away.
The memorandum makes four demands of the administration. First, a joint committee of three members, with officials of the supply department, legal metrology and the oil company concerned, should be formed and surprise inspections of all pumps in the district carried out within 7 days. Second, every pump should be required to put up a clear Marathi signboard saying that all public amenities are free here and that complaints can be made on a toll-free number. The numbers to be given are 1800-2333-355 for IOCL, 1800-22-4344 for BPCL and 1800-22-3030 for HPCL.
The third demand is that pumps that charge for air and do not provide the facilities be fined as per the rules, and that in the first phase fuel sales and supply to them be stopped for 15 days. Fourth, a full report of the action taken should be given in writing to the media within 15 days in the public interest.
On the occasion, Santosh Lilabai Dashrath Parkhi said, "The commission that pump operators get is meant for serving customers, not for filling their own pockets. If the Chandrapur district administration does not raid these looting pump operators and take strict action within 7 days, Shiv Sena and the Grahak Sanrakshan Samiti will hold a dharna agitation at the Collector's office in a democratic manner. A 'Bhagwi Shikayat Peti' will also be placed at every petrol pump in the district to intensify the agitation."
