Petrol pumps threaten to work for only 8 hours a day from October 15

Over 70,000 petrol pumps across the country would function only for eight hours a day from October 15 if demands including higher dealer commission were not met by the oil companies by then, petroleum dealers said today.

Over 70,000 petrol pumps across the country would function only for eight hours a day from October 15 if demands including higher dealer commission were not met by the oil companies by then, petroleum dealers said today.

The pumps, under the umbrella of the Confederation of Indian Petroleum Dealers, would also stop purchase of fuel from oil companies on October 1 and 2 as part of the stir to press their demands, Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers' Association, a member of the confederation, said.

"About 70,000 petrol pumps across 18 states and over 3,600 in Tamil Nadu would work on single shift basis – eight hours a day from October 15 onwards if our demands are not met, in order to cut down our cost on salaries and electricity charges," Association Secretary M Haider Ali told reporters.

On their decision not to purchase high speed diesel and motor spirit from the oil marketing companies, he said they were paying 33 per cent taxes on diesel and 49 per cent on motor spirit respectively, to Central and State governments.

"This will be affected on the two days (October one and two). It will create huge losses to the Government. We want the Ministry (of Petroleum and Natural Gas) to take note of our protest and take steps to implement the Apoorva Chandra Committee recommendations," he said.

According to Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Assocation (TNPDA) representatives, the committee has suggested among other things, increasing the commission paid to the petrol pump operators and minimum wage of employees in petrol pumps.

"Though the Committee has given its recommendations in 2010, the Ministry is yet to implement it", a TNPDA official said. 

lock-gif
Register for Free
to continue reading
Sign Up with Google
OR
Watch LIVE TV, Get Stock Market Updates, Top Business, IPO and Latest News on NDTV Profit. Feel free to Add NDTV Profit as trusted source on Google.
GET REGULAR UPDATES
Add us to your Preferences
Set as your preferred source on Google