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CPI (M) stages road roko

Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Trying their patience: A long queue of motorists at a petrol bunk in Cuddalore. —

PUDUCHERRY: Following the closure of several petrol bunks owing to “shortage” of fuel on Monday, the Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a road roko on Tuesday demanding action against the bunks that stocked petrol.

The party’s Tamil Nadu State Committee member and Auto Sangam’s honorary president, T. Murugan, said that Puducherry required 1.25 lakh litres of petrol every day, whereas the supply was three lakh litres.

“Most of the petrol bunks in the town were closed on Monday citing shortage of fuel. Many bunks had stocked petrol expecting a hike in the price,” he said.A number of petrol bunks sold only “power petrol,” which was Rs. 3 more than ordinary petrol, he said, adding that the government should take action to curb such activities.

“The Union government has not issued any order regarding price rise of petrol. Therefore, the supply should be smooth. The Civil Supplies Department should declare the quantity of petrol supplied and sold each day,” he said.

Around 300 people participated in the road roko and 65 persons courted arrest. They were later released.

While some of the petrol bunks here have put up the “no stock” boards, others are doing brisk business. Long queues of motorists are seen at the bunks where the petroleum products are available.

The bunks that had run out of stock did not know the real reason for the delay in supply and their ready reply was that it might take some time before the regular supply resumes.

However, L. Moorthy, who runs a petrol bunk in the town, said that since he was operating his own tanker there was no shortage of the petroleum products. However, at the filling point there was delay — the tankers that used to turn up in the evening hours were arriving here only during the night.

He said that there was no rationing of the petroleum products and the demands of the customers were fully met. Some of them were even taking additional fuel in bottles.

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