New Delhi, June 12 -- The Centre has barred industrial, commercial and institutional consumers from purchasing diesel from retail fuel stations, seeking to protect supplies meant for ordinary consumers amid an abnormal surge in diesel sales at petrol pumps due to diversion from bulk channels.

In a notification issued on June 11, the Petroleum Ministry said industrial, commercial and institutional consumers have increasingly shifted to retail outlets to buy fuel because of the price difference between retail and bulk sales, leading to pressure on supplies intended for retail customers.

The ministry said it had observed that "abnormal increases in sales of Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel through Retail Outlets in certain parts of the c...