Mumbai: Redevelopment projects, infrastructure works and gensets across Mumbai were impacted for a brief period on Friday afternoon after diesel pump owners said they had stopped giving the fuel in barrels, drums, jerrycans and the like following a govt circular directing them to provide the fuel “only in the tanks of vehicles”.The situation lasted three hours — till dealers finally got clarity from the govt, which issued another circular revising the previous one and mentioning that exceptions should be made for industrial use. The clarification brought relief to many, especially those involved in redevelopment projects, which depend on cranes, earthmoving machines, forklifts and gensets, none of which can be brought to the pumps — the fuel is usually given in barrels and jerrycans to operators. Many factories also depend on the fuel provided in barrels.Members of the Petrol Dealers’ Association said pumps across Mumbai halted such sales from 12 pm after receiving the first circular. The revised govt communication reached dealers about 3.30 pm.Ravi Shinde of the Petrol Dealers’ Association said the first circular, if enforced without exceptions, would have thrown the existing system of supplying fuel in containers for earthmoving equipment and gensets into disarray and impacted redevelopment projects across Mumbai. He said it was fortunate that the issue was resolved within hours, warning that if pumps had refused fuel to industrial users through Saturday and Sunday, it could have led to chaos.Petrol pump owners said supplying diesel in barrels and cans for gensets is standard practice across the city, while many factories regularly send staff to collect fuel for industrial use. They added that cranes and earthmovers would have come to a halt had the suspension continued for two or three days.Petrol Dealers’ Association president Chetan Modi said dealers stopped dispensing fuel in loose containers as soon as the association received the circular around noon. He said the wording caused confusion because it did not mention any exemptions, prompting him to write to govt departments seeking clarity. Modi said a group of dealers also approached the collector’s office and obtained the second circular, which clarified that the restriction applied to private vehicle owners and public transport, while industry was exempt.
