Vijaywada: Andhra Pradesh Federation of Petroleum Traders (APFPT) announced on Tuesday to operate petrol bunks for only 12 hours a day from May 15. Also if the dealers’ margin is not increased in the upcoming meeting with oil marketing companies (OMCs) in New Delhi on May 9, the federation will observe a no purchase day on May 10.
Following Prime Minister’s orders to shut petrol stations on Sundays, petroleum traders said they are going to shut their outlets on Sundays across Andhra Pradesh, according to a report of TOI.
APFPT president Ravi Gopala Krishna said, “oil marketing companies (OMCs) are reluctant to increase the dealers’ margin even though their demands were supported by Apoorva Chandra committee report.” He further said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between OMCs and traders where 11 regulations were agreed upon, which included increasing dealers’ commission on every litre of fuel sold.
“They promised to increase the dealers’ margin after every six months in the MoU. However, that has not happened. More than 80 percent of the traders in the state are bearing losses,” said Gopala Krishna.
He said there will be a national-level meeting between petroleum dealers and OMCs on May 9 in New Delhi, during which a final verdict will be taken on the dealers’ commission. “If our commission is not increased, we will protest by not purchasing fuel on May 10,” he added. Gopala Krishna said fuel stations in AP will work for only 12 hours (from 6 am to 6 pm) May 15 onwards, as it will help reducing cost.