KASARGOD: Taking advantage of high petrol diesel prices in Kerala and the two per cent cess hike in Kerala, opportunities for fuel black market is opening up along the Karnataka border. Some of the houses and small shops operating in the border areas of Manjeswaram, Thalappady and Perla have already been converted into mini petrol pumps.

The petrol is filled in bottles and cans in these small shops. The sellers earn about Rs 22 this way. There is no mechanism available to prevent sales that are concentrated in shops and homes.

The customer directly approaches for fuel in black market sales. This transaction is public. In earlier times when there were fewer petrol pumps, illegal sales were widespread. A similar trade is happening at the border.

It is very interesting that people come to buy petrol from Karnataka which is available at cheap cost at higher prices than that of Kerala.

Karnataka Petrol 101.58

Kasaragod 106.49

Black market 120

Saves time

People buy bottles of petrol from these shops in Karnataka just to save time. There are people who come on bikes and cars and fill up with petrol. They only have to travel a few kilometres to reach a pump in Karnataka. The black market is encouraged by people not being willing to go that far.

The petrol filled in the can is drawn through the mouth through a small pipe and then filled into the bottle. When cess is also implemented, there is a possibility of tax evasion on a large scale. The fuel is bought in barrels from pumps in Karnataka and then sold in black market in Kasargod.