Dirty toilets: Owners of filling stations to pay Rs 25,000 fine

Rachna Khaira

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 29

It seems there is no end to the ongoing stand off between petroleum dealers and oil marketing companies (OMCs) as the later have announced to levy a fine of Rs 25,000 if an unclean toilet was found on petrol pump premises.

Perturbed, oil dealers have created uproar and asked the OMCs to first get washrooms constructed on spots where these have not been built till date. The OMCs seemed to have taken the decision in haste after the Municipal Corporation pulled them up for not maintaining toilets at fuel stations.

To make the public aware about the move, the OMCs have even installed messages boards outside every petrol pump asking the people to give a feedback either through an SMS or by the Swachhta App.

While slamming the move, Monty Sehgal, spokesperson, of the Petrol Pump dealers Association, Punjab, said the OMCs should have first followed instructions before setting standards for dealers.

He said, “Till date, many filling stations have no toilets. Despite being approached many times, OMCs have failed to get public utilities constructed. It is a major violation by public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan announced by Prime Minister Modi.”

When contacted, Amarpreet Ahluwalia, territory manager of Bharat Petroleum, the nodal agency for all the OMCs said outlets without toilet blocks were built before 2005. However, he said the OMCs would ensure to provide public utilities at all their outlets and take strict action against those violating directions issued under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by the Petroleum Ministry.