The legal metrology department has been carrying out surprise raids on petrol pumps since a month
The heavy rush at a petrol pump on SD Road after a flash strike was announced by some petrol pumps in the city on Sunday. - DC
Hyderabad: Petrol pumps in the city resorted to a flash strike on Sunday to protest the recent raids by the legal metrology department. However, while some pumps did shut down, many others functioned normally. A majority of petrol pumps of the IOC functioned normally, but several HP and BP pumps were closed from 3 pm without any notice. Pumps that were open in Secunderabad, Begumpet, Somajiguda, Banjara Hills, Himayathnagar, Masab Tank, and Tarnaka saw serpentine queues.
The legal metrology department has been carrying out surprise raids on petrol pumps since a month. Nearly 50 cases have been booked across the state while 15 cases have been booked in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.
"Petrol pumps using unapproved fuel dispensing machines such as Dressorwyne were seized. During the raids it was found that the greedy managements have been cheating consumers by using remote control devices to under supply fuel. We cannot allow pumps to loot consumers and threaten to go on strike if raided," said Mr S. Gopal Reddy, controller of Andhra Pradesh Legal Metrology Department.
The pump owners’ contention is that all the fuel dispensing machines are supplied by the oil marketing companies and they have to install whatever is supplied. They argue that they are suffering losses for no fault of theirs when their pumps are seized on the ground that there were using unapproved machines. It was reported that out of 400 pumps in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, 320 pumps functioned normally and 80 were closed on Sunday. The panic buying and long queues were the result of some TV news channels reporting that all pumps were going on strike.
"We will settle the issue amicably. We are meeting the legal metrology department officials on Monday to sort out the issue. All petrol pumps will function normally from Monday," said Mr Rajiv Amaram, joint secretary, southern region, Confederation of Indian Petroleum Dealers.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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