Sale of loose petrol goes unabated

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 25

Throwing safety norms to the winds, loose petrol is being sold along roadsides with impunity right under the nose of the authorities concerned. Selling and storing of petrol without any valid licence is illegal.

As per the Petroleum Act 1934 petrol (petroleum class A product), which is highly inflammable, should be kept in glass containers, stoneware or metal. It should not exceed one litre in capacity in case of glass container and 25 litre in case of metal receptacles. It is illegal to store more than 30 litre petrol without a licence. It is also mandatory that the container should display warning about hazardous nature of petrol.

Selling petrol or diesel on roadside is dangerous. There is also possibility of petrol being adulterated. The authorities have warned the people from time-to-time not to buy petrol from such makeshift shops as it could be mixed with kerosene or other adulterated oils to fleece unsuspecting motorists.

“Further, there is always a threat that unscrupulous elements can use petrol for anti-social activity,” said a resident while adding that selling of loose petrol was rampant in rural belts.

An elderly man was found selling petrol on the Amritsar-Attari bypass road, near Mahal village. He had stored petrol in plastic bottles. Incidentally, he was selling petrol just opposite the Mahal police chowki.

Police Commissioner Amar Singh Chahal said selling loose petrol was illegal. He said as the matter was not in his knowledge he would look into the same. Nobody would be allowed to sell any petroleum product in such manner, which could create problem at any time, he added.