Petrol stations to remain shut on Sundays

Ludhiana, August 16

As commission on fuel has not been increased by the Central Government and oil companies for the past eight years, the Petrol Pump Dealers’ Association here has decided to shut fuel stations every Sunday, starting from August 18. The petrol pump dealers will observe Sundays as weekly off in protest in Ludhiana, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar and Ropar.

Punjab Petrol Pump Dealers’ Association Chairman Ashok Sachdeva said at present, the commission for the dealers was fixed at 2 per cent per litre while they were demanding at least 5 per cent.

He said for the past several months, the association had pleaded the oil companies to increase the commission but nothing could be done without the consent of the Union Government. Sachdeva added, the demand was also raised with the Union Government but it said that oil companies had to decide the same. “It has to be done decided by the Centre and oil companies but we are suffering. To this end, we have decided to launch protest,” the Chairman added.

The dealers said the commission for petrol dealers had remained the same for the past several years, while it had been revised for other articles and services. Fuel prices have increased manifold but not the commission. The government had assured that after the elections, they would look into the matter but nothing had been done so far, they rued. — TNS