BSP seals four-decade-old IOCL petrol pump in Steel City Bhilai for Rs 7 crore due

RAIPUR: Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP)’s Town Services Department has sealed the four-decades-old Chopra petrol pump, an authorized fuel station of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), at Forest Avenue, Sector-10, in Steel City. The BSP department carried out the action in the presence of executive magistrate Khyama Yadu and adequate police force for the non-renewal of the lease even after the expiry of the lease deed in 2013.
The BSP and the IOCL had a lease deed in 1980 for a period of 33 years, but the company did not renew the lease deed after 2013 despite several notices issued by the steel company authorities to the fuel station operator, reminding him about the expiry of the lease deed.
Finally, the BSP terminated the lease deed in 2014 and registered a case in the Estate Court under the PP Act, in 2015. The IOCL moved the Chhattisgarh High Court against the BSP action seeking a stay, but the Court did not give relief in the case. Subsequently, the lease rent amounting to seven crores is pending against the petrol pump authorized by the IOCL, said the BSP officials.
Several rounds of meetings and talks were held by BSP with higher officials of the IOCL on the matter after the court verdict but in vain. The BSP told the IOCL to deposit the dues by February this year but it did not happen. The BSP extended the time limit till March 10, 2023, to deposit the amount. When the amount was not deposited in the given time frame, the BSP sealed the pump on Wednesday, said the Steel Executive Federation of India chairman and BSP Officers Association president N K Banchhor.
Documentation regarding the action was done in the presence of both the officials of the IOC and the BSP, said the BSP officials. IOCL Mumbai, Raipur office and the dealer are liable for the seven crores due, said the BSP officials.
BSP Officers Association general secretary Parminder Singh and secretary Remi Thomas were also present during the entire proceedings.