Bhatkal: Auto-Drivers protest against unavailability of fuel at petrol station

Bhatkal 30 July 2018: (Bhatkallys News Bureau) Auto-drivers on Sunday protested against a private petrol bunk for unavailability of petroleum gas due to repair works of dispensers and machines here in Bhatkal on July 29. Several auto drivers gathered at the Kamakshi petrol station when the unavailability of petroleum gas irked the drivers as the petrol bunk being the only authorized petrol station where petroleum gas for autos can be sold. The auto drivers also alleged mismanagement of the machines and that the machines are up for repair twice or thrice a month causing inconvenience to the auto drivers. Narsimha Prabhu, the manager of the petrol station explained the situation to the drivers and said there is only one engineer for maintenance of the machines in the entire district and whenever the machines are up for repairs it takes a few days for the engineer to attend it, the auto drivers however were in no mood to negotiate with the manager and demanded immediate and permanent solution to the problem. Nagesh Bhat, the proprietor of the petrol bunk stepped in to resolve the dispute, and dealt with the auto-drivers and assured them of timely repair of the machines. When the drivers alleged that Bhat, by using has powers has barred the authorities to authorize any other petrol bunk to sell petroleum gas for autos. Replying to this, Bhat asked the auto union officials to write to authorities and get the facility at any petrol station and he will be more than happy that the burden of his petrol station will come down. (Bhatkallys News Bureau)