Other States - Orissa   

Petrol pumps go dry in Berhampur

— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY: A scene at a petrol pump in Berhampur on Friday.

BERHAMPUR: With news of proposed price hike of petroleum products in the air sudden panic buying and manmade scarcity of petrol has started in the city.

On Friday there seemed to be rush among people to fill up the tanks of their vehicles at petrol pumps. They wanted to fill up their tanks to save money before the price rise. This sudden buying spree surely put pressure on the stock of petrol pumps in the city. “If the price of petrol gets increased by three rupees a person filling up five litre tank of his scooter would gain only Rs.15. But this panic buying is putting extra pressure on our stock,” said a personnel of a local petrol pump.

The effect of anticipatory buying started to show. The PVN Rao (I) petrol pump of BPCL at the heart of the city had to close down as its stock of general petrol got exhausted. The managing partner of the petrol pump, P.Ramadevi alleged that the BPCL authorities were not providing them general petrol from the local depot and were pressing to sell premium petrol sold at higher price to the customers. As the customers were not ready to fill up premium petrol at higher price and there were chances of unruly scenes so the private management decided to close down their petrol outlet. The MD of the unit, P.V.Krishnan alleged that the sales officials of the BPCL had created this artificial scarcity of general petrol as it was not being provided to retail outlets although its stock was available.

Closure of this petrol pump had its impact on the psyche of people and the queues at other petrol pumps in the city were surely longer by evening as people wanted to fill up the tanks of their vehicles before the price rise.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Magnificent edifice
Ojha’s inclusion in Team India brings cheer to State cricket lovers
Governor releases book on tribals
State urged to set up sexual harassment panels
Five held on charge of raping minor
Students bring laurels
Boy run over
State to launch iris ration cards
Literary body threatens stir
Panel summons MLA in rape case
A problem too big to sweep under the carpet
No escape!
Petrol pumps go dry in Berhampur

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu