Unwelcome change: Petrol pump employees fear attack

Bunk owners finding it difficult to get low denomination notes

Following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes and non-availability of lower denomination currencies, employees of fuel stations are under fear of attack by customers and hence they are not willing to work, said Shashikala Nagaraj, president, Federation of Mysore Petroleum Traders.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Shashikala Nagaraj said, from the past two weeks, as many as 15 employees of various fuel stations have been attacked by customers over the currency issue. “When lower denomination currency is not available at fuel stations, from where and how to provide change to the customers? While a majority of the customers are convinced, a section of people are forcing us for change.

Many employees are under fear of attack and are not willing to work,” she added.

The petrol bunks, under the federation, are accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from the customers. But, a majority of people ask the attenders to fill fuel for Rs 100 by giving Rs 1,000 note, she said.

A member of the federation said, though the federation has approached the district administration and Lead Bank authorities to provide low denomination currency, the bunks are not getting the necessary amount of change. “We only get Rs 2,500 per day and we need at least Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 low denomination currency to do business.

Recently, a few customers have assaulted a petrol bunk owner in Nanjangud over the change issue,” he said.

When asked about the sales of fuel after the demonetisation, the members said, the sales are normal.

“Demonetisation has not hit the business. Initially, the bunks were issuing coupons instead of change. But, due to technical problems, the dealers cancelled the coupon system and are doing business with cash,” they said.

Federation members Govindraju, Narayanaswamy, Rajith Hegde and Basavegowda were present.