Pune News: BPCL Petrol Pump At Lulla Nagar Fined ₹60,000 After Activist Prafful Sarda Exposed Violations
Pune News: BPCL Petrol Pump At Lulla Nagar Fined ₹60,000 After Activist Prafful Sarda Exposed Violations
Pune-based businessman and activist Prafful Sarda has once again highlighted regulatory lapses, leading to strict action against a petrol pump violating petroleum industry norms. Following his persistent efforts, authorities imposed a ₹60,000 fine on the fuel station for failing to comply with safety and operational guidelines.
Sarda, known for his work in civic and consumer rights, emphasized the need for strict enforcement of regulations to maintain safety standards and protect consumer interests. His intervention has been widely acknowledged as a step toward ensuring greater accountability within the petroleum sector.
Violations such as no proper uniform to the employees, housekeeping staff, no proper first aid material provided, absence of air boy, medicines showed no expiry dates, QOC area showed lot of garbage accumulation, unauthorized PUC box in retail outlet, aluminium buckets had no binding wires, etc.
“After continuous follow-ups, I am glad that BPCL authorities have finally taken action against the non-compliant petrol pump. Consumers have a right to basic facilities at fuel stations, yet many fail to provide them. This penalty should serve as a wake-up call for all fuel stations,” said Sarda.
He further urged petroleum companies to conduct weekly audits to improve customer experience and called for fuel stations to display large, visible boards informing customers about their rights and available free services.
When asked about the violations and action being taken against the petrol pump, BPCL Spokesperson stated, “The Retail Outlets of Oil Marketing Companies are governed by the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG), which are standardized across the PSU oil companies and has concurrence from MOP & NG. MDG outlines the rules, service standards, and essential facilities that dealerships must provide to customers.”
“In case of any violations, MDG prescribes appropriate actions, including warning letters, fines, and extreme action including termination. Compliance is an ongoing process, and if a dealership continues to violate the guidelines despite penalties, further actions are taken as per the provisions of MDG. It is important to note that MDG applies uniformly across the entire oil industry and is not limited to a single retail outlet or company,” BPCL added.
