VASCO: The petrol pumps dealers in Goa have decided to observe May 10 2017 as “No Purchase Day” as a show of support for the call made by the consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers Association (CIPDA). This was revealed by Paresh Joshi, President of All Goa Petrol Dealer’s Association(AGPDA) on Monday.
The president said a meeting was held by the members of AGPDA and they decided to support the All India call given by CIPDA the national body. he said ” The oil marketing companies had given our federation a written assurance of considering our major demand by January 17 and had requested our All India Body to withdraw the All India’s “Bandh” strike planned on 5th November 2016. However in spite of repeated reminders the Oil marketing companies have not taken up our demands for consideration till date. Hence to display the unity of All India Petrol Dealers and to support the call given by apex body we have decided to observe “No Purchase Day” on May 10 2017. Accordingly, all the petrol firms in Goa will not purchase any products from the oil companies on this date, however all petrol pumps in Goa will be working as per their regular working hours.”
He went on to say “The Central Government had constituted a one man Apoorv Chandra Committee, to device a formula to resolve the issue of Petrol Pump Dealers Margins. The report of this committee was accepted by the Government, the oil marketing Companies and by All India Petrol Traders Association. By virtue of this report the oil Companies were to review the dealer margins of the petrol pumps, based on the increase of the work load and various cost, every six months. Although this report was accepted in the year 2011, the oil marketing companies have since not reviewed the same till date.”
Joshi said “In order to exert pressure on oil companies in the past, an all India Petrol Pump closure was planned on November 5 2016, which the oil marketing vompanies requested us to withdraw after they gave us written assurances with regards to to the reviewing of the dealer margins by January 2017. The All India Petrol Pumps work 24 x 7 throughout the year and no compensation in the dealers margin has been provided for working of 3rd shifts and for working on Sundays. The Petrol Pumps are facing heavy working capital crunch as their margins are fixed by the oil marketings companies.”
Joshi believed their demands were very reasonable and were based on the Apoorv Chandra Committee report accepted by all stake holders. Joshi said “While observing this “No Purchase” Initiative, care is being taken in Goa to ensure that the regular Petrol Pump customers do not face any inconvenience. All the Petrol Pumps would be purchasing sufficient stocks in advance so the customer’s requirement on May 10 2017 is not affected. Hence an appeal is being made to all the customers of petrol Pumps in Goa not to panic on account of this “No Purchase” activity and do not over purchase your requirement. All petrol Pumps will be working as per their regular working hours. This definitely is not “Petrol Pumps Bandh”. We request all our customers to kindly bear and co-operate with us on this hour of unity. No further agitation has been planned by this Association as on date. Further course of action will be as per the guideline to be received from our apex body.”
