Petrol pumps will be closed on Sundays in eight states, starting May 14. These are Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Haryana.

The move is an effort by owners’ association to comply with a call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his “Mann ki Baat” programme to use oil resources judiciously, PTI reported. Oil companies had not, however, been informed of the decision before it was taken.

Suresh Kumar, an executive member of the consortium of Indian petroleum dealers, said oil companies had asked them to not shut on Sundays when they had discussed such a move a few years ago. The owners have, however, decided to go ahead with it this time, though with provisions in place to provide fuel in case of emergencies.