Hyderabad: Those whose vehicles run on compressed natural gas (CNG) complain that petrol pumps are charging them more. Autos, cars and some two-wheelers in the city run on CNG, which is priced at Rs 58.61 paisa per kg officially.
Consumers complain that they are being charged more than this because of manipulations in pressure settings. The Legal Metrology Department received a complaint about this on Thursday from the Telangana Auto Drivers Welfare Association.
Lack of sufficient bunks is one major reason why consumers are forced to pay more. Mannam Shareef, an auto driver whose vehicle runs on CNG, says, “We are more affected than petroleum users because we are being charged extra by five to ten rupees by the petrol bunks. Earlier, when there were fewer bunks selling CNG, there used to be long queues and they used to charge 50 or so extra to avoid the queue. Now, even if there is no queue, they demand extra money and deny gas if we refuse to pay more.” He said that CNG is not available in every bunk and so “we are compelled to take from the nearest available bunk.”
The Auto Drivers Welfare Association has made a representation to the Metrology Department’s Assistant Controller K. Siddhartha Kumar regarding the extra charge of ten rupees on every refilling. Mr Kumar has said he will take this issue seriously.
Rajiv Amaran of the Hyderabad Petroleum Association, said the equipment won’t allow one to pump more than a certain limit, and as a result, there won't be access to the available reserves.
