Motorists are complaining that, over the past few days, many retail fuel outlets in Chennai have been insisting that they buy premium petrol variants instead of regular fuel, which is costlier by ₹9 a litre. Fuel outlets have also begun rationing diesel to heavy vehicles to ensure that there is no diversion of diesel to industrial users.
K. Saravana Kumar, a resident of Washermanpet, said that he tried getting petrol in several fuel outlets, and the pump operators were pushing high-end fuel only. “In these times of tight budgets, not everyone can afford to spend additionally for travel. Even if I tell them that I don’t need high-end petrol, they say it is the only thing available,” he said.
A few dealers said that they had been supplied premium petrol instead of regular petrol. “I was told to take additional stock of 10 KL of the costlier version. I could not say no since I needed something to sell to customers,” he said.
As far as diesel is concerned, fuel outlets have been told not to supply to industrial users since that grade of diesel is costlier by ₹35 a litre than regular diesel. “If we get a heavy vehicle needing 400 litres, we have to keep proof that we have indeed sold diesel to a truck. No diversion can happen. Some fuel outlets have been instructed to not sell more than 200 litres,” said a dealer.
