Taking a cue from the farmers' protest against real estate companies in Greater Noida, farmers in Meerut have blocked access to depots of three oil marketing companies, causing a fuel supply disruption in Noida, Ghaziabad, Hapur and Meerut. Tankers have not being allowed to refill fuel from these depots and supply it to petrol pumps for the last three-four days.
Partapur in Meerut has three depots belonging to Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. Farmers from whom land was acquired for these depots decades ago are demanding higher compensation from the government. "This has created a supply-gap situation in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut. We are trying to source fuel from depots in Mathura. However, the distance is much longer and transporters are not available in adequate numbers. Every petrol pump in the affected areas is sitting on minimum stock. It would take four-five days before the situation becomes normal," said Kamal Kalsi, general secretary, Gautam Budh Nagar Petrol Pumps' Dealers Association and owner of an Indian Oil pump in Noida.
A senior Meerut administrative official said the unnecessary supply disruption had been created due to issues related to land. He said the dispute would be resolved soon, adding strict action would be taken against those creating the problems.
Oil companies say they are helpless, since the dispute was between farmers and the government. “Our sales have been affected. We are trying to ensure supply from alternate sources to ensure there is no shortage,” said an Indian Oil executive.
V M Thapar, owner of a Hindustan Petroleum pump in Noida said his pump had not been able to source adequate supply from Mathura and therefore, by noon, he was left with the minimum mandatory stock required to be maintained. “This morning, there was almost a 400-yard long queue at our pump, owing to a supply shortage. Not all pumps have been able to secure fuel from Mathura,” he said. Noida and Greater Noida account for 25 fuel pumps.
The situation is worse in Meerut, since it is difficult for the petrol pumps in the city to source fuel from Mathura. “No alternative arrangement has been made by oil marketing companies. We have been asked to source fuel from Mathura, but it is not viable for us,” said an Indian Oil pump owner in Meerut.