Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Apr 16: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts' Petroleum Dealers' Association under the banner of Akhila Karnataka Federation of Petroleum Traders, Bangalore will participate in the ‘No Purchase No Sale’ call given by the Federation of All India Petroleum Dealers, New Delhi with effect from midnight of April 23.

This was informed by K V Shenoy, president of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district Petroleum Dealers Association at a press conference here on Monday April 16.

"This is an indefinite agitation and all public sector petrol bunks will take part in it", he said.
 
The agitation comes in the wake of the government’s proposal to oil companies to put up 12,000 more outlets even in the prevailing situation wherein out of the 40,000-odd outlets in the country, more than 70% of them sell fuel below the breakeven mark of 150 kl per month. The move by the government would result in a 'disastrous' failure of both the existing and the new dealerships, he said.

The revised salary structure, increased electricity bills, and many more expenses and also the 'unique' facilities to the customers enforced by the oil companies have made it impossible for an average selling dealer to survive with the present commission structure, Shenoy said, and added that the decision to agitate was taken after all negotiations failed.
 
"The Apoorva Chandra committee formed by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas has conducted a detailed study of the working of a petrol pump and submitted a reported to the government which is very realistic and practical and has considered many factors before arriving at a workable commission structure. The implementation of the report has been delayed for long, thus affecting the working of the outlets due to frequent price hikes," he said.
 
Shenoy also pointed out that the government of Karnataka has the highest sales tax structure in the country and hence a lot many dealers in the border area are on the verge of closure. "Reduction of sales tax to be at par with the neighboring states is our demand to the state government," he said.
 
He said the call for agitation is being announced to the public well in advance so as to avoid inconvenience.
 
Satish N Kamath, executive committee member of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts' Petroleum Dealers' Association said that due to variation in price of the petrol, inter-state smuggling is on the rise.
 
Sudhir Bhandary, the secretary of DKUPDA was present.