Pune: District Collector office has ordered all fuel pump owners to provide petrol, diesel and CNG to all customers during the lockdown period, after checking their employment identity card. The decision has been taken after several complaints were received about fuel pump owners denying service to some customers. Fuel pumps will continue to operate between 9 am to 6 pm daily during the lockdown period.

The district administration, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) have permitted industrial and agricultural units and Information Technology (IT) companies to operate during the lockdown period up to July 23. Administration officials have asked employees who are commuting to and from office, to carry their identity card and letter from the company's promoter, founder or human resource department while travelling, which will be considered as a valid permission pass for travel. Despite these concessions, some fuel pump owners had refused to provide petrol to two-wheelers and four-wheelers citing police restrictions. During the first and second lockdown, police and district administration had prohibited sale of fuel to common citizens except those engaged in essential services. Fuel pump owners had misinterpreted the current lockdown rules and hence denied service to common people.

District Supply Officer Bhanudas Gaikwad said, "We have issued orders to all fuel pump owners in Pune, Pimpri, Chinchwad and district to provide fuel to all customers travelling to and from their office. We have also written to the petrol pump association to follow our orders. The fuel pump operators should check the identity card of the employee and their timings before supplying fuel.

There are 7 lakh workers, employees engaged in about 70 thousand micro, small and medium enterprises in and around Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad cities.

While the big companies provide their own bus service for transporting employees, the small units do not have any such facility. Their employees and workers rely on private vehicles like two and four-wheelers to come to the office. Since public transport services are not available during the lockdown, these employees do not have a choice but to use their private vehicles. Considering these problems, the district administration has taken the decision to allow the sale of fuel to all employees.