Amid outages, traders, industries seek petrol supply in cans for gensets

Caption: The representatives of traders, commerce and industries of Belagavi submitted a memorandum to DC Mohammed Roshan on ThursdayBelagavi: Representatives of traders, commerce and industries in Belagavi on Thursday submitted a memorandum to deputy commissioner Mohammed Roshan, highlighting the severe difficulties caused by restrictions on the supply of petrol in loose cans and bottles at fuel stations. They urged the district administration to permit the controlled supply of petrol in limited quantities through cans for genuine generator use, especially during power cuts. The delegation also sought permission for petrol pumps to issue fuel against valid identity proof and requested the administration to issue clear, practical guidelines to ensure that genuine users are not denied fuel. Relief was sought for trade, commercial establishments, industries and essential services during electricity disruptions.Satish Tendulkar, who led the delegation, said the memorandum explained the serious practical problems being faced by traders, commercial establishments and industrial units due to the ban on petrol supply in cans. He said frequent power outages across several parts of Belagavi - caused by unseasonal rains and ongoing infrastructure development works - have made generators indispensable for daily operations.Generators are critical for the functioning of shops, textile units, factories, offices, hospitals, hotels, cold storage facilities, medical stores, billing systems and banking transactions, among other essential services. However, because petrol is not being supplied in cans, many establishments are unable to operate their generators during power outages.This has resulted in significant financial losses for traders and industrial units, disruption of business transactions and customer services, and difficulties in preserving temperature-sensitive goods. The situation has also affected hospitals, clinics and emergency medical services, while hotels, restaurants and other service-sector units face operational challenges. Small and medium industries are reporting production losses, and digital billing, banking and payment systems are being frequently disrupted.Emphasising that Belagavi is a major trade and industrial hub, Tendulkar said uninterrupted functioning of commerce and essential services is vital. The delegation requested immediate intervention by the district administration in the larger public interest and sought necessary directions to allow controlled petrol supply for generator use.Industrialists Mukesh Khoda, Mukesh Sanghavi, Raju Paliwala, Lalachand Chapru, Nitesh Jain, Vikas Kalaghatagi and former Belagavi Chamber of Commerce president Basavaraj Javali were present during the submission of the memorandum.