No more petrol, diesel on Sundays?

Petroleum dealers have decided to work only six days a week for 8 to 9 hours They have demanded to increase dealer’s commission Most likely the petrol bunks will not operate on Sundays from may 10

If their demands are not met, there will be no petrol on Sundays, and in addition, the bunks are likely to operate only for 8 to 9 hours a day from May 10.

Last year, the petroleum dealers had gone on a strike, and the protest was withdrawn only after it was assured that their demands would be met later. As no steps have been taken so far in this regard, the CIPD has taken the decision to work only six days a week that too for 8 to 9 hours only.

This move will especially affect Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra as the CIPD is active here. However, the All India Petroleum dealers have not extended their support to this decision.

Accordingly, on May 10 the petrol bunks coming under CIPD will not purchase any petrol or diesel and the decision to work six days a week will be effective from May 14.

Currently, the dealer commission on petrol is Rs 2.56 per litre and diesel is Rs 1.65 per litre, as per the Indian Oil Corporation circular, reported Money Control. There are almost 56,190 retail outlets of which 52,604 are owned by public oil companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. The three PSUs also control 95 percent of the market.