Lucknow inching towards a petrol crisis too?
LUCKNOW: Already reeling under acute CNG crisis, the city is now inching towards a petrol crisis too as a number of filling stations – which were shut during raids by the STF and district administration earlier this year – are still lying closed.
People are facing a tough time getting fuel from the petrol stations in the city limits.
“It’s becoming tough to get petrol these days as there are long queues at almost all the pumps,” said Mohammed Imtiyaz, a daily commuter.
In July, the UP STF and the district administration had launched a massive drive against petrol pumps.
The teams recovered ‘cheat chips’ from many petrol pumps and hundreds of filling stations were found dispensing less fuel.
Taking stern action, the district administration lodged more than 34 FIRs and ordered closure of around 26 petrol pumps, against the total 202 petrol pumps in city limits.
“In the drive, around 26 petrol pumps faced closure. Of the total, 12 petrol pumps were allowed to reopen, after the fuel dispensers got clearance from departments concerned. However, around 14 petrol pumps are still closed. This is causing inconvenience to locals who can be seen queuing up at petrol pumps,” said Ranjeet Kumar Gaur, working president, UP Petrol Pump Owners’ Association.
Gaur said though the district administration was making efforts to tackle the situation, the scenario was yet to improve.
Kaushal Raj Sharma, district magistrate said, “Efforts are being made to address the situation. We are also in talks with oil companies to facilitate opening of new petrol pumps in the city as well.”