Chandigarh, May 21
Fuel pump owners in Punjab have sought the intervention of the state chief secretary over what they described as a worsening fuel inventory and replenishment crisis affecting retail outlets across the state.
The Petrol Pump Dealers Association said several petrol pumps, particularly those linked to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, are facing repeated delays in fuel supply despite dealers maintaining sufficient advance payments with oil companies.
PPDA chairman Ashok Sachdeva said the association has written to the chief secretary requesting immediate steps to resolve the issue and ensure uninterrupted fuel availability across Punjab.
In its representation, PPDA president Paramjit Singh stated that fuel supply disruptions have resulted in operational difficulties and dry outs at multiple retail outlets. He said Indian Oil Corporation Limited has managed the situation better, while dealers associated with HPCL and BPCL continue to face delayed replenishment and inconsistent supply on a daily basis.
The association also alleged that dealers are being compelled to purchase premium grade fuels along with regular petrol and diesel supplies, placing additional financial pressure on pump owners already dealing with disrupted supply cycles.
According to the association, reduced depot working hours and curtailed holiday operations since February have further aggravated the situation by slowing fuel replenishment across the state.
The PPDA warned that frequent dry-outs are creating panic among consumers, particularly farmers, and leading to long queues at fuel stations where stock is available.
The association urged the Punjab government to direct oil marketing companies to ensure regular and uninterrupted fuel supplies so that normal operations can be restored at the earliest.
