Recently, officials raided a few shopkeepers for selling petrol in plastic bottles. However, many commercial establishments across Goa sell small quantities of petrol because it is convenient for tourists who sometimes get stranded in villages where there is no petrol pump nearby. These shopkeepers often help them continue their journey until they reach the next filling station.
I suggest that the Ministry of Petroleum introduce approved 1-litre or 2-litre petrol containers that can be safely stored and sold by authorised shops. Since several measures have already been introduced to make business easier and improve services for tourists, this idea is also worth considering.
Just as 5 kg LPG cylinders are supplied through an organised system, petrol could be made available in small sealed containers and collected through the Deposit Refund System (DRS). This would improve safety while providing a useful service to both tourists and local residents.
Gregory E Dsouza, Siolim
