Pune: Pune-based businessman and activist Prafful Sarda has once again exposed regulatory lapses in the petroleum sector, leading to a ₹60,000 fine being imposed on a petrol pump for violating industry norms. His continuous efforts have prompted authorities to take strict action against the fuel station, which was found to be non-compliant with essential safety and operational standards.
Sarda, a well-known advocate for civic and consumer rights, stressed the importance of enforcing regulations to safeguard both consumers and industry workers. His intervention has been recognized as a significant step toward accountability in the petroleum sector. The violations identified at the petrol pump included employees not wearing proper uniforms, inadequate first aid facilities, lack of an air boy, expired medicines, poor sanitation in the QOC area, unauthorized PUC box placement, and missing safety features such as binding wires for aluminium buckets.
“After persistent follow-ups, I am pleased that BPCL authorities have finally acted against the fuel station. Customers are entitled to basic facilities at petrol pumps, yet many stations fail to meet these standards. This fine should serve as a warning to others in the industry,” Sarda stated. He also urged petroleum companies to conduct regular audits and called for fuel stations to install visible boards informing consumers of their rights and available free services.
When questioned about the violations, a BPCL spokesperson explained that petrol stations are governed by the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG), which apply uniformly across all PSU oil companies under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. The MDG sets service standards, operational rules, and required customer facilities. In case of non-compliance, actions such as warnings, fines, and even dealership termination can be enforced. BPCL further emphasized that compliance is an ongoing process, and repeated violations could lead to stricter penalties under MDG regulations.
