Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010958270300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Officials to inspect petrol bunks to prevent hoarding

Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: All petrol bunks in the district would be inspected by teams of Revenue and Police officials on Friday to ensure that they were not hoarding diesel and petrol, Collector T. Soundiah has said.

“There have been reports that some of the fuel stations have shut down even while holding back their stocks. We want to ensure that all bunks have exhausted their stocks so as to ease the situation,” Mr. Soundiah told reporters after chairing a meeting with senior officials of Police, Revenue and other government agencies to review the situation arising out of the fuel shortage in the district, owing to the Public Sector Undertaking executives’ strike, and the continuing lorry strike.

Though supply has been suspended from IOC and BPCL terminals, supply was being maintained through the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation’s terminals at Madurai and other places. “If necessary, we will provide police protection for transporting petrol and diesel supplies and also at the dealer outlets,” Mr. Soundiah said.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) had diesel stocks of about 2 lakh litres, against its daily operational requirement of about 1.10 lakh. The stocks would last for a couple of days. So far, there has been no curtailment of bus services.

Mr. Soundiah said rice mill owners in the district have agreed to provide their lorries for transporting essential commodities meant for distribution through the Public Distribution System. These vehicles would be operated with the help of drivers from the Police Department. Ex-servicemen would also be roped in. However, currently there was adequate stock of all essential commodities at all PDS outlets. There was also adequate stock of kerosene.

The TNSTC would transport vegetables to the City markets and the Railway officials have also assured to help. He warned that stern action would be taken against those intercepting or blockading trucks transporting goods. The district administration would closely monitor the situation.

Mr. Soundiah conceded that supply of cooking gas has been badly affected and the Cooperative Department and several other agencies have run out of stock.

Superintendent of Police A. Kaliyamurthy, Corporation Commissioner T. T. Balsamy, District Revenue Officer Sri Venkatapriya and other senior revenue and police officials attended the meeting.