Seven petrol pumps sans toilet facility

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 15

While the Municipal Corporation of Jalandhar is all set to notify the toilets constructed at fillings stations in the city for public use, seven of the filling stations in prime locations were found to be without the facility.

These include the petrol pumps at Shashtri Nagar market, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar and Basti areas. While the oil companies deduct six paisa for every litre of fuel purchased by the consumers at these filling stations to provide public utility services including toilets, they are charging it back from the dealers.

Confirming this, Dr Srikrishan, Assistant Health Officer, Municipal Corporation, said the defaulter petrol pumps were issued show-cause notices and asked to provide the facility as soon as possible.

It is pertinent to mention here that the allotment condition for petrol pumps mandates provision for proper toilet and drinking water facilities. The oil companies, instead of taking measures to ensure the facilities, is happy to gain a further profit of six paisa per litre from the dealers.

“Why should a dealer suffer every time? Instead of charging the money back from us, the oil companies should get the toilets constructed in its outlets. Under the provisions of the marketing dynamics guidelines (MDG), we are supposed to pay Rs 25,000 to the government for not providing the toilet facility. It is high time the oil companies get the toilets constructed on all its premises,” said Monty Sehgal, spokesperson, Petrol Pump Dealers Association, Punjab.

Sehgal also informed that the present revenue was too less to maintain such facility which will be soon opened for public use. The oil companies should increase its revenue share from six paisa per litre to maintain it further, he added.