Pune: The ambitious plans of oil companies in the country to deliver petrol and diesel to people's doorstep have been struck down by Government of India's Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). PESO has made it illegal to supply fuel through small vehicles (bousers) fitted with tanks and dispensing pumps.
Sources have stated that small factories and software parks in Hinjawadi, Magarpatta City, Hadapsar, Viman Nagar, Manjri, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Chakan and Loni in Pune district were regular customers for such bowsers. The order by PESO has been passed with regard to complaints about the door-to-door sale of petroleum products in and around Bengaluru.
Speaking on the issue, Spokesperson of All India Petrol Dealers Association (AIPDA), Ali Daruwalla said, “After continuous follow up from AIPDA for the last two months, we have finally been successful in obtaining a complete ban on all sale of petrol and diesel done through small vehicles (Bousers) fitted with tanks and dispensing pumps.
Bousers are often supplied power by wiring systems and externally fitted electrical modifications, which pose a massive hazard to the highly inflammable fuel loads.”
He said that the failure to comply, will hereafter attract a penalty and be treated as a serious violation of petroleum control order. “All participating vehicles (Bousers) will be confiscated by the police, should they be apprised of any such malpractice or find any Bowser plying on the roads in possession of petrol or diesel, attempting direct illegal sales of the products to customers. The orders issued to all five directors of HPCL, IOCL, BPCL, Essar and Reliance clearly states that petrol and diesel are hereafter only to be sold by petrol pumps with underground tanks and valid explosives license holders, within petrol pump premises only,” he stated.
The order further stated that customers who want the diesel to run generators at their buildings will hereafter have to make their purchases from petrol pumps only, that too in aluminium barrels with a maximum capacity of 900 litres. “Only this quantity can be transported by road legally and only this quantity can be stored in any nonlicensed premises. Any person found storing over 900 litres quantity of diesel is hereafter liable to be booked for all relevant criminal charges by the police for endangering the life and property of others,” Daruwalla said.
According to him, as far as petrol is concerned, citizens cannot buy petrol in bottles or plastic cans of any nature. “Petrol can be sold in quantities of only less than 20 litres in aluminium containers for hospitals, housing society generators, agricultural pumps and portable gen-sets as used commonly in shops and malls. Likewise, strictly less than 20 litres in aluminium cans can be transported,” he explained.
He said that the order has stated that any person found in violation of this law is liable to be booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including endangering the lives of people around them.
