Illegal diesel sale reported in Sangareddy amid price difference with Karnataka

Lower diesel prices in Karnataka are reportedly encouraging illegal bulk purchases and smuggling into Telangana, with on-call diesel delivery services operating in Indrakaran police limits. Villagers have raised safety concerns over fuel adulteration, transportation and unsafe dispensing practices.

Sangareddy: Lower fuel prices in neighbouring Karnataka are encouraging unscrupulous elements to buy diesel in bulk, smuggle it into Telangana and sell it at normal prices, while also adulterating it. This dangerous practice is prevalent in Indrakaran police station limits of the district, where on-call diesel delivery services are thriving, according to local people.

For local people living in the border villages, it is easy for them to travel to Karnataka and buy fuel which costs at least Rs 10 less per litre and transport it back to Telangana. More often, they adulterate the diesel with some solvents and sell it to customers.

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One such illegal diesel dispensing unit is being operated at a private real estate venture in Indrakaran village. After noticing the activity, which could turn dangerous, local people captured the sale of diesel in a video which went viral on social media platforms.

Since petrol and diesel prices were approximately Rs 10 less per litre than the prices in Telangana, people are emboldened to travel to neighbouring Karnataka, which is just 70 km away from Sangareddy district headquarters. These on-call diesel dispensing service providers are also buying diesel from trucks which travel long distances. The same fuel will be sold again to customers.

What is causing concern is that the practice of unsafe filling and fuel transportation is extremely dangerous. Demanding stern action against the culprits, the villagers of Indrakaran said that it would result in a disaster if anything goes wrong while transporting and filling the fuel in an unsafe manner. The villagers demanded that the civil supplies department, police and other concerned departments initiate stern action against the persons who were resorting to illegal practices.