A majority of retail outlets of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) in Punjab and Haryana are facing an acute shortage of fuel for the past 10 days. The stock-transfer agreement with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has reportedly not been honoured by HPCL in other parts of the country (Bihar and Andhra Pradesh), forcing the IOC to restrict fuel supply to HPCL in the region. Well-placed sources informed TNS that all three oil marketing companies enter into stock-transfer agreements, wherein they transfer stock to the other in one region, and can get the stock back in another region of the country. "HPCL had been taking stocks from IOC here, but had failed to return the stocks to IOC elsewhere. As a result, IOC restricted the supplies to HPCL at its terminals in Ambala, Jalandhar and Sangrur,' said a top official. As a result, the retail outlets of HPCL here have been facing an acute shortage. A petrol station owner in Patiala informed TNS that for the past 10 days, he has been getting just 50 per cent of the fuel that is asked for. "Last week, I had sent an indent for 12 kl of fuel, but I got just six kilolitres. After this, I got a supply only yesterday,' he rued. He added that though IOC and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) were not forcing their dealers to lift premium fuels, HPCL was forcing them to lift and sell premium fuels. Officials in the HPCL agree that the fuel supplies had been hit for the past couple of days. Amit Mehra, regional manager, HPCL, said they were facing constraints on supply side, but assured that the matter would be sorted out soon. "We have already received some supplies at our terminals last night, which would ease out the situation,' he added. Sources informed that last night, IOC released 3,000 kilolitres of fuel to HPCL. However, this would only provide temporary relief to the HPCL outlets, who will still get a restricted supply, till a long-term solution is worked out with IOC.