Pune fuel supply is facing a potential disruption during Diwali after the Petrol Dealers Association Pune (PDAP) alleged that Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) blocked product loads for several dealers despite payments being made through authorised State Bank of India platforms.
According to PDAP, affected dealers paid through SBI eDFS and SBI banking portals and submitted transaction proofs to HPCL officials. The association said the payments have not been reflected in HPCL’s accounts because of banking delays or internal payment-reconciliation issues. It has argued that dealers who have paid through authorised channels should not be denied fuel supplies because of a technical delay.
The concern has emerged during the Diwali period, when fuel demand is expected to be high and travel activity increases across the city and surrounding areas. PDAP said several petrol pumps could face the risk of running out of stock if pending loads are not released, potentially inconveniencing consumers.
Dhruv Ruparel, president of PDAP, said it was unacceptable for dealers who had made payments through authorised banking channels to be denied petroleum products because of payment-reconciliation problems. He said HPCL should release loads after verifiable transaction proofs are submitted and resolve the issue without making dealers responsible for internal banking or system delays.
PDAP has escalated the matter to HPCL chairman, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol. The association has sought urgent intervention to release all eligible loads against verified SBI payment proofs.
The association has also asked Pune depots to remain operational on Sunday so that pending indents can be cleared and fuel supplies can continue to reach petrol pumps. PDAP said disruptions could affect dealers’ reputation and consumer confidence, while consumers should not face shortages because of unresolved reconciliation between an oil marketing company and banking institutions.
The association’s position is that a payment completed through an authorised banking channel should be honoured once the transaction is verified. The immediate outcome will depend on HPCL’s reconciliation of the submitted payment records and the release of pending product loads from Pune depots.
