Mysuru:  The petrol bunk owners are facing the heat of Model Code of Conduct in force. Every day, the cash they carry home or to deposit in the banks are being checked by the election officials and this has resulted in a great deal of inconvenience both to the owners and the employees, said the owners of the Petrol Bunks, addressing a press conference at Pathrakarthara Bhavan here yesterday.

The election officials are asking documents for the cash we have collected. They confiscate the money and question us for hours. As a result, the owners’ and the employees’ time are being wasted. Along with this, it is becoming difficult to carry out transactions in the bunk due to shortage of cash, said Federation of Petroleum Traders State President Basavegowda, expressing his displeasure.

Majority of customers pay us in small cash and we collect it and have to deposit it in the banks. How we can produce documents for such small transactions, he asked. Every day from a minimum of rupees one lakh cash to lakhs of rupees cash is collected in the petrol bunks. How can we deposit it in the bank or take it home if they confiscate this money under Model Code of Conduct. How can we conduct business, he wondered.

The members of the Federation have submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard requesting him not to stop Bunk owners and employees who are carrying such cash and allow them to deposit in the bank or carry it home. However, the officials quoting the Model Code of Conduct are expressing their helplessness, he said.

Federation General Secretary Ranjith Hegde, Secretary Manjesh Kumar, Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District Association’s Patil and Lokesh were present.