Petrol Pumps To Serve As Multi-Fuel Stations

The government may soon allow all petrol pumps in the country to be converted into multi-fuel dispensing stations. It is contemplating rescinding its earlier order restricting most of the petrol pumps within the city from selling any other fuel but motor spirit.

The government has been forced to review its earlier ruling in view of a large number of car-manufacturers producing diesel-driven vehicles with the result that a large number of city consumers are demanding more petrol pumps selling diesel as well.

Moreover, with the Supreme Court order directing the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in older vehicles to contain atmospheric pollution, and the petroleum ministry approving the use of LPG in vehicles, it is considered imperative that all the petrol pumps in the country are given the liberty of selling all the fuels approved by the government for use in transport vehicles.

 

The country has almost 17,000 petrol pumps belonging to the four public sector undertakings _ Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and IBP Co Ltd.

Of these, 133 petrol pumps are selling only motor spirit and the rest, most of them without proper authorisation from the government, have been selling both motor spirit as well as high speed diesel.