By IANS,
Chennai : The state-run oil marketing firms apologised Wednesday to the people in Chennai for fuel shortage as most petrol and diesel outlets here remained closed for the third day.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to the people of Chennai owing to any failing on our part,” S. Krishnamurthi, executive director (retail) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), said at a media conference here on behalf of the three oil marketing companies.
The past three days saw petrol bunks of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and BPCL in Chennai going dry.
There was rationing of oil at several bunks in the city and the dealers forced the people to buy only costlier branded petrol/diesel.
However, the officials of the three companies attributed the fuel shortage to the panic buying by consumers following some rumours.
According to the officials, the delay in the arrival of a tanker vessel carrying 15,000 tonnes of diesel from Lebanon resulted in BPCL bunks going dry.
The retail outlets of the other two companies went dry owing to the increased demand and also the panic buying from the public, they argued.
They said there was sufficient petrol in all retail outlets and people need not panic.