Coimbatore Begins To Feel The Pinch - Petrol
Motorists at a petrol bunk in Coimbatore to refuel their vehicles on Monday. Some of the petroleum outlets in Coimbatore and neighbouring districts have started restricting supply of petroleum products, though unofficially. Petroleum corporations, however, say that there is no rationing. The outlets are getting 65 to 70 per cent of supply against their actual indent, according to officials of the petroleum corporations here. It is being ensured that every petroleum outlet has enough stock on hand so that not a single customer is turned away without petrol or diesel, they say. However, some outlets have gone to the extent of asking customers to fill only branded fuel, which comes at a slightly higher price. For just a day last week, one of the outlets at Ramanathapuram in the city filled petrol for just Rs. 50 for a two-wheeler. The reason given was that it had not received the load. Several two-wheeler and car owners have been experiencing this in many other outlets for the last one week.
When contacted, the area offices of the Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited said the objective behind reducing the quantum of supply was to ensure that distributors never resorted to hoarding or black marketing of the petroleum products especially in the wake of reports about possible hike in prices of petroleum products.
Some of the dealers here say that the supply to the outlet depends on sales. If the sales at an outlet is 3,000 litres a day and if the demand is for 7,000 litres, mainly due to apprehension among consumers on price hike and availability, then there is a problem. They clarify there is no shortage and hence there is no need for panic.
Secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause K. Kathirmathiyon accused the petroleum corporations of resorting to “arm twisting” in a bid to provoke the customers so that the Government comes out with an announcement on price hike. A customer is being made a tool by the petroleum corporations in a bid to get the prices hiked. Denying the customer a product of his choice and pushing sales of products that are priced on the higher side is a “restrictive trade practice,” he says.
