The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has approached the district administration for permission to supply diesel through PESO-approved bowsers and barrels to prevent any disruption to the city's waste collection services. This comes after new restrictions on diesel sales were imposed, threatening the operations of garbage collection contractors.
Fuel Requirement for Garbage Fleet
According to civic records, Antony Waste Handling requires approximately 3,500 liters of high-speed diesel (HSD) daily for its operations, while BVG India consumes around 2,700 liters. The combined requirement of 6,200 liters has prompted the civic body to seek an exemption mechanism to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability.
Proposed Fuel Stations
In a letter addressed to District Collector Kumar Ashirwad on Thursday, Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar requested that Pal Petroleum at Pardi Naka and AR Plaza at Lakadganj be allowed to supply diesel to vehicles operated by AG Enviro (now merged with Antony Waste Handling Cell). Additionally, Swaminarayan Petroleum at Wathoda should cater to the fleet of BVG India Ltd.
Reason for the Request
The move follows a June 11 notification by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which restricts retail outlets from selling more than 200 liters of HSD to a customer or vehicle in a single day. The notification also mandates that diesel can only be dispensed directly into vehicle tanks or PESO-approved containers.
NMC officials fear that these restrictions could hamper the city's solid waste management system, an essential service dependent on uninterrupted fuel supplies. AG Enviro serves households in Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Hanuman Nagar, Dhantoli, and Nehru Nagar zones, while BVG India handles waste collection in Gandhibagh, Satranjipura, Lakadganj, Ashi Nagar, and Mangalwari zones. Together, they deploy 734 vehicles daily to collect garbage from across Nagpur and transport it to the Bhandewadi dumping yard for processing.
Officials noted that both agencies have been conducting door-to-door waste collection and transportation since November 16, 2019, under contractual obligations. Any disruption in diesel supply, they warned, could stall garbage lifting operations, leading to uncollected waste piling up in residential areas and posing public health risks, especially during the monsoon season.
The solid waste management department stressed that ensuring a steady diesel supply is critical to sustaining daily sanitation services. The district administration has yet to decide on NMC's request.
Summary of NMC's Diesel Requirement
- Total daily HSD needed: 6,200 liters
- Vehicles deployed daily: 734
- Agency-wise requirement:
- Antony Waste Handling Cell: 3,500 liters/day
- BVG India Ltd: 2,700 liters/day
- Zones covered:
- Antony: Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Hanuman Nagar, Dhantoli, Nehru Nagar
- BVG India: Gandhibagh, Satranjipura, Lakadganj, Ashi Nagar, Mangalwari
- Proposed fuel stations: Pal Petroleum (IOCL) at Pardi Naka, AR Plaza (HPCL) at Lakadganj, Swaminarayan Petroleum (HPCL) at Wathoda
- Reason for request: Union government notification dated June 11, 2026, restricts retail sale of HSD to 200 liters per customer/vehicle per day; diesel can only be dispensed into vehicle tanks or PESO-approved containers.
- Waste destination: All collected waste is transported to Bhandewadi dumping yard for processing.
