Pune, August 3, 2023: All 42 petrol dealers in Pune district have taken a collective decision to suspend the sale of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at Torrent CNG pumps from August 10, 2023. The move comes as a demand for the release of long-pending trade margin arrears, which amount to a total of 7 crores from oil companies and Torrent Gas. Dhruv Ruparel, President and Working Committee member of the Petrol Dealers Association Pune, made the official announcement.
In a press statement, Dhruv Ruparel shed light on the situation, explaining that the dealers have repeatedly sought the release of the trade margin arrears from the concerned authorities but have received no response.
He also revealed that a meeting was previously convened under the leadership of the former Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, Ravindra Chavan, to address this issue. However, despite their efforts, the minutes of the meeting have not been provided, and their demands seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
“The continuous lack of action by the oil companies and Torrent Gas has resulted in a significant disparity in trade margins within the same district. Such a situation is untenable for us as dealers, and we cannot continue to operate under these financial constraints,” Ruparel asserted.
The decision to suspend CNG sales was not taken lightly, as the dealers are aware of the potential inconvenience it may cause to the public. However, they feel compelled to take this step as their financial distress remains unresolved. They hope that this action will draw the attention of the concerned authorities and prompt them to release the outstanding trade margin arrears.
The halt in CNG sales is expected to have an impact on commuters and businesses that rely on CNG as a clean and affordable fuel option. The petrol dealers are resolute in their stance and have set the deadline for August 10, 2023, until the trade margin amounts are duly credited to their account statements.
The situation is being closely monitored by both the public and the authorities, given its potential to affect the overall transportation sector in Pune. The Petrol Dealers Association Pune is determined to continue its fight for fair trade practices and financial stability for all stakeholders involved.
Please note that attempts to contact Torrent Gas and the concerned oil companies for their comments on the matter were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
