A fresh controversy has surfaced in the fuel retail sector after petroleum dealers alleged that Hindustan Petroleum Corp. officials were pressuring outlets to sell higher-priced "power petrol" instead of ordinary petrol, despite growing calls for fuel conservation and austerity.
In a letter addressed to HPCL's director-marketing, the Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers claimed that dealers in several regions were being forced to push premium petrol to consumers and that ordinary petrol indents were allegedly being restricted unless converted into power petrol orders.
The allegations assume significance at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for austerity measures, including work-from-home practices and judicious fuel consumption to reduce unnecessary usage.
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The dealers' body said consumers have a fundamental right to choose their preferred fuel and asserted that retail outlets cannot compel motorists to purchase premium petrol. It also argued that denying ordinary petrol, which is cheaper by around Rs 19 per litre, places an unfair financial burden on consumers.
According to the letter reviewed by NDTV Profit, dealers further alleged that some HPCL regional offices were refusing to clear valid fuel indents unless retailers agreed to increase premium petrol orders. The consortium claimed such practices were creating “artificial constraints” despite public assurances from oil marketing companies that there was no fuel shortage.
The CIPD also pointed out that Indian Oil Corp. and Bharat Petroleum were allegedly continuing regular fuel supplies without similar restrictions in the same regions.
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Raising regulatory concerns, the dealers warned that any artificial restriction on ordinary petrol availability could amount to a violation of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The consortium sought HPCL's immediate intervention to ensure dealers are not coerced into selling specific fuel variants and that fuel indents are processed fairly.
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