Following directives issued by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the state government to check diesel hoarding and illegal trade, the Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers Association (FAMPEDA) has announced that diesel will henceforth be dispensed only in Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)-approved cans and containers.
FAMPEDA president Amit Gupta said fuel stations are barred from supplying diesel in ordinary containers, regardless of whether the purchaser is a hospital, hotel, farmer or any other consumer. He warned that violations could attract action against petrol pump operators.
“As per the notification, diesel can only be provided in Peso approved cans or containers. Currently, very few institutes have Peso-approved cans. The Peso website has a list of companies making these cans. But these companies don’t have enough stock as they hardly had any buyers till now,” Gupta said. He added that discussions would be held with officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to explore possible relaxations for essential and emergency services. If permitted, diesel could be supplied in alternative containers under specific circumstances.
The new requirement has triggered concerns among several sectors due to the limited availability of PESO-approved cans. Hospitals have reported difficulties in maintaining diesel reserves needed to operate backup generators during power outages. Farmers, too, are worried about the impact on agricultural operations, as tractors and other farm equipment dependent on diesel are extensively used during the ongoing pre-sowing season.
Meanwhile, the Nagpur Residential Hotels Association (NRHA) has approached Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, seeking intervention in the matter. The association said hotels are facing hurdles in procuring diesel required for generator operations.
“The petrol pump staff are asking us to bring a letter from the collector office for getting diesel supply,” said NRHA president Tejinder Singh Renu. The association has requested the government to provide temporary relief until the supply of PESO-approved containers improves and the new system becomes easier to implement.
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