Latest news with #EssentialCommoditiesAct
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Ensure no fuel is added to 'no fuel'
Good public policy doesn't just solve problems. It does so fairly, efficiently, and with an eye on the future. It's also shaped transparently, with all stakeholders at the table. But all these boxes are rarely ticked. Take Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) recent directive: starting July 1, all end-of-life (EoL) vehicles - diesel vehicles over 10 years old, and over-15 petrol ones - regardless of their state of registration, won't be allowed to refuel in Delhi. This decision makes ample sense, given pollution concerns. But it has put petrol pump-owners in a spot, considering civic sense (read: public reaction to rules and regulations) across India isn't one of its fortes. Earlier this week, Delhi Petrol Dealers' Association (DPDA) urged the city administration to revoke penalties on pump-owners for failing to enforce the 'no fuel for old vehicles' policy. They raised three concerns. One, under Essential Commodities Act , dealers aren't allowed to deny fuel to any customer. Two, pump attendants are not trained or authorised to act as enforcement officers. Three, unless the rule applies across Delhi-NCR, vehicles will refuel just outside city limits, hurting business. All three points are valid. The second is the most pressing, especially in Delhi, where enforcing rules often comes at personal risk. Confrontations between the public and those tasked with policy implementation can quickly escalate. In Ghaziabad, a pump attendant was recently shot for enforcing the 'No Helmet, No Fuel' rule. In April, two toll plaza staffers in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district were injured in a dispute over toll charges. Enforcement is the state's job. If that requires boots on the ground, so be it. Compliance shouldn't be taken for granted.
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Economic Times
Ensure no fuel is added to 'no fuel'
Good public policy doesn't just solve problems. It does so fairly, efficiently, and with an eye on the future. It's also shaped transparently, with all stakeholders at the table. But all these boxes are rarely ticked. Take Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) recent directive: starting July 1, all end-of-life (EoL) vehicles - diesel vehicles over 10 years old, and over-15 petrol ones - regardless of their state of registration, won't be allowed to refuel in Delhi. This decision makes ample sense, given pollution concerns. But it has put petrol pump-owners in a spot, considering civic sense (read: public reaction to rules and regulations) across India isn't one of its fortes. Earlier this week, Delhi Petrol Dealers' Association (DPDA) urged the city administration to revoke penalties on pump-owners for failing to enforce the 'no fuel for old vehicles' policy. They raised three concerns. One, under Essential Commodities Act, dealers aren't allowed to deny fuel to any customer. Two, pump attendants are not trained or authorised to act as enforcement officers. Three, unless the rule applies across Delhi-NCR, vehicles will refuel just outside city limits, hurting business. All three points are valid. The second is the most pressing, especially in Delhi, where enforcing rules often comes at personal risk. Confrontations between the public and those tasked with policy implementation can quickly escalate. In Ghaziabad, a pump attendant was recently shot for enforcing the 'No Helmet, No Fuel' rule. In April, two toll plaza staffers in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district were injured in a dispute over toll charges. Enforcement is the state's job. If that requires boots on the ground, so be it. Compliance shouldn't be taken for granted.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Minister warns of stern action against fertiliser blackmarketing
Issuing a stern warning against blackmarketing, forced product bundling, or overpricing, Uttar Pradesh agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi on Tuesday said farmers would get urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP), and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilisers strictly at notified retail prices. Agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi said farmers would get urea, DAP, and NPK fertilisers strictly at notified retail prices. (HT File) Addressing a press conference in the state capital on Tuesday, Shahi said that during surprise inspections on June 23 (Monday), several fertiliser outlets in Lucknow and Sitapur were found violating norms. While some shops were sealed, licences of others were suspended, he said. 'In Sitapur, Jain Enterprises was sealed for stock irregularities and under-supply to retailers, while Balaji Agro Traders and several other outlets were found violating record-keeping norms or selling without proper display boards,' the minister said. 'In Lucknow, wholesalers Om Prakash and Jai Prakash were caught overcharging retailers. Their licences were suspended. FIRs will be lodged against those indulging in forced sales or inflated pricing,' he added. Expressing satisfaction over fertiliser availability in the state, Shahi said that of the 39.58 lakh metric tonne (MT) supplied for the 2025 kharif season so far, 25.62 lakh MT had already been sold, with nearly 9.91 lakh MT in stock. To ensure transparency, the minister directed that all fertiliser sales must be done via point of sale (POS) machines and linked to farmers' land records and crop requirements. District magistrates, SPs and agriculture officers have been instructed to closely monitor supply and distribution, Shahi said. He reiterated that no fertiliser sale would be allowed without a receipt, and violators would face action under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Ahead of ban on fuel supply to overage vehicles, petrol dealers rue lack of support
NEW DELHI: With the July 1 deadline for the ban on refueling end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) fast approaching, petrol pump dealers in the national capital have raised serious concerns over the lack of clarity and support from the government regarding the directive's implementation. In a strongly worded letter to the Transport Department, the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) has questioned the absence of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and stated that the burden of enforcement cannot be shifted to fuel station operators. The dealers argue that while the government's directive mandates strict action against ELVs, including impounding and disposal, it fails to designate petrol stations as implementing agencies. They point out that the Essential Commodities Act prohibits fuel stations from refusing service to customers. 'It creates a legal contradiction that will put dealers in an impossible position,' said Nischal Singhania, president of the DPDA. In their letter, the dealers expressed growing anxiety over the lack of formal guidelines and institutional support. They warn that without proper enforcement protocols, the ban could lead to confusion and risky confrontations at fuel stations.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: Dealers flag concerns for own safety while enforcing fuel ban on ELVs
The Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) on Monday expressed concerns over the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) 'No Fuel to End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs)' directive, set to be implemented in Delhi from July 1. In a letter to the Ministry of Transport, the DPDA has demanded clarity on enforcement, protection for staff, and the withdrawal of penal provisions on petrol dealers. The directive, announced in March, prohibits petrol stations in Delhi from dispensing fuel to ELVs vehicles from July 1. (HT Archive) The directive, announced in March, prohibits petrol stations in Delhi from dispensing fuel to ELVs vehicles from July 1. The rule will be expanded to five high vehicle-density districts — Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat — from November 1 and across the rest of the National Capital Region (NCR) from April 1, 2026. To be sure, according to CAQM, if a vehicle exceeds the permissible limit—10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol—it is flagged as an ELV. The association flagged that this directive conflicts with the Essential Commodities Act, under which fuel cannot be denied to customers. 'Fuel pump attendants are not equipped to act as enforcement officers. Their doing so could lead to confrontation,' the letter said, citing a 2014 incident in Ghaziabad where a fuel attendant was shot for denying fuel under a helmet mandate. DPDA has requested deployment of police or civil defence personnel at fuel stations to enforce the directive safely. 'The provision for penal actions, including arresting dealers or pump attendants for non-compliance, is neither practical nor acceptable. Such measures would not only disrupt essential services but would also make this scheme a non-starter,' the letter stated. The association also noted the absence of a standard operating procedure (SOP) and criticised the phased rollout. 'Delaying the implementation in NCR would shift the sales to adjoining cities rather than removeELVs from the roads,' they said, calling for uniform implementation across NCR. The DPDA highlighted that enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act lies with the Delhi Police and Transport Department, not petrol pump workers. They have requested an urgent meeting with the ministry before July 1 to discuss their demands. HT reached out to CAQM for a comment, but did not receive any at the time of going to print.
