Maharashtra has been sealed by the local authorities for non-payment of `export fee’

A unit of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd at Manmad in north Maharashtra has been sealed by the local authorities for non-payment of `export fee’.  The company said the unit provides petrol, diesel, kerosene and other petroleum products to the national capital and has moved the Bombay High Court praying for an immediate relief. The vacation bench of the court, however, refused to pass any order without hearing the Manmad Municipal Corporation.

BPCL has been asked by a division bench comprising Justices Ranjana Desai and Ashotosh Kumbhkoni to serve notice to the corporation and adjourned the hearing till tomorrow. BPCL has storage tanks at Panewadi village, near Manmad from where the company supplies petroleum products to Delhi, Kota and Haryana apart from north and central parts of Maharashtra. While soaring global crude prices have dealt a big blow on the profitability of the domestic oil companys (OMCs) that sell below cost, the government has not allowed oil firms so far to raise retail fuel prices.