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Kerala

Safeguarding public interests should be given priority

Petroleum dealers in Kerala have just withdrawn, in the context of a writ petition that came up in the High Court, a threat they had held out to restrict their hours and days of business in the face of what were presented as safety and security issues at the outlet level. How do vehicle users and the public in general view such a move to restrict the availability of fuel by dealers, and how do individual outlet operators themselves see the question? Our readers respond:

A necessary move

It is indeed necessary to shutdown gas stations for a day considering the present situation in Kerala. It is absolutely necessary to control the use of petrol/diesel. We should think of how much electricity we are going to save by shutting down the gas stations. Also, the low-paid employees at the filling stations will get a day off. Emergency situations happen only when there is a “hartal” called by any political party without any notice. One or two gas stations should be kept open every 10 km. We Keralites are very good at copying things from other States; why don’t we copy the Tamil Nadu system. Gas stations in Tamil Nadu have been shutting down for a day every week for the last two months.

V.J. Nair

Thiruvananthapuram

Low commission, high costs

Petroleum Traders had decided to shut down petrol pumps after 8 p.m. and on Sundays, but this decision has been kept in abeyance now. The main reason for restricting the working time was the inability of dealers to work for 24 hours with the prevailing meagre dealer commission. The dealer gets a commission of only Rs.1.01 on the sale of one litre of petrol and 60 paisa on one litre of diesel. Considering evaporation loss, transit loss, pilferage loss, storage loss, etc. the association is demanding 5 per cent dealer commission. But the Central government is reluctant to adopt percentage commission instead of litre-wise commission. The following factors are also responsible for this decision — safety and security issues at retail outlets and overall working expenses in the midst of electricity tariff-hike, load shedding, low voltage problem, high cost of running diesel generator, etc. In our State, only 25 per cent of the dealers work for 24 hours. In urban areas and on national highways, only 10 to 25 per cent of their sales are made between 8 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Sundays, the sale is only one-third to half of normal working days. In this context, we should also remember that 99 per cent of State-owned Civil Supplies pumps are not working after 9 p.m. from 1.10.2007. The laws governing storage, distribution and sales are now governed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board and the State laws are now invalid. The petroleum dealer should not be denied his Fundamental Rights to earn a living through this trade as well as his right to have weekly and national holidays in the name of public convenience.

Babukutty Philipose

Pathanamthitta

Sundays problematic

Petroleum dealers’ decision to close at night is understandable. But their decision to close on Sundays is highly deplorable. It will affect long distance travellers and auto and taxi drivers. It will also create long queues in front of pumps and traffic jams in metros on weekends.

Anirudh I.

Aranmula

Adding fuel to the fire

Vehicle users have already been affected by the fuel price rise. Restrictions on the availability of fuel only add fuel to the fire. People have the right to fulfil their basic needs. Uninterrupted supply of fuel is needed by the people and it must be ensured by the government.

P. James Raja

Thiruvananathapuram

Think of the queues

We live in a world where without petrol there is no means of transportation. Now, with the move by fuel dealers to reduce working hours, it seems that our means’ of transportation are at risk. It is sickening to see that none of the parties are interested in respecting human needs. Can we, the vehicle users, be expected to run out of fuel only when the petrol bunks are kept open by the dealers? Just imagine long queues of vehicles near petrol bunks, that image should be enough to wake us from our slumber to fight these moves.

Nithin

Thiruvananthapuram

Rise against the situation

The petroleum dealers’ decision is going to affect the transportation system in Kerala. If the dealers unilaterally reduce working days and supplying hours, what would be the condition of the vehicle users?

I am sure that this would become a big issue and put pressure on vehicle users and the government. Before starting to travel by public transportation, rebel against this issue. It would be good on the part of the authorities concerned to take proper steps to avoid this issue.

Joel Fernandes

Thiruvananthapuram

Back to bicycles

In today’s world petrol is for human survival what blood is for human life. If petroleum dealers restrict their hours and days of business, what would be the condition of the poor drivers who are completely dependent on fuel? If such restrictions arise in future, we may either have to go in for solar energy which is very expensive or go back to bicycles and bullock carts. We are very far from using electricity or atomic energy for transportation. Are the poor drivers expected to wait until the petroleum dealers decide to supply petrol? It seems that we are money oriented and not human oriented.

P. Antony

Thiruvananthapuram

Restricting freedom

If Tata could provide a one-lakh car for the common man, then why can’t these petrol stations provide fuel for the vehicles. Regarding safety and the security, I feel that it is not a serious issue because this system was being followed for many years without any problem. How come this problem was discovered all of a sudden? This is nothing but a question of the common mans freedom.

Jeevan

Thiruvananthapuram

Against public interest

The decision of pump owners to shut down petrol stations after 8 p.m. is, first of all, against public interest, causing great inconvenience to vehicle users. Secondly, it is a violation of the provisions of the petroleum dealers licence order. Thirdly, dealers who are functioning illegally have no say in the matter and should be dealt with firmly by the government.

Leo Florence

Thiruvananthapuram

Harmless plan

There is no harm in closing down petroleum outlets once in a week. A pump in a particular town could close once a week with the mutual consent of outlet owners. The day of closing could be rotated among the pumps. There can be exceptions during festive seasons. This could save energy and consumption in addition to getting rest for outlet crew.

Koshy Ninan

Thiruvalla

Provide more security

Closing petrol bunks at night or fixing time schedules for sale is not a solution because petrol is needed at all times, during day and night, especially by travellers, pilgrims and people like autorickshaw drivers who cannot afford to stock petrol for a week.

They buy petrol from time to time according to the money they get. The government should give more protection and security to petrol bunks at night, as it gives for banks. The flying squad should patrol the area to provide a sense of security.

B. Peter

Thiruvananthapuram

Address the issues individually

The reasons advised for the ill advised move, security concerns, low margins, rising overhead costs, forced sale of branded fuel, are not state specific; dealers across the country confront the same issues. Some of these concerns can be successfully addressed by the dealers themselves. For instance, if viability of standalone pumps is under threat, there is a case for re-jigging the business models by diversifying into ancillary business wherever possible. Safety risks can be mitigated by avoiding cash transactions late in the night to the extent possible.

Having said this, one has to admit that some of the grievances merit sympathetic consideration. For instance, it cannot be denied that the dealers are being forced to sell branded fuel. The Oil Marketing Companies should examine the possibility for increasing the commission for selling branded items.

V.N. Mukundarajan

Thiruvananthapuram

Anti-social move

Fuel supply comes under the essential services Act. Most motorists visit petrol bunks on their way home from work. Generally, it would be between 9 p.m. and 12p.m. So, the move by dealers to close their pumps at 8 p.m. will be a deathblow to the public.

Besides, it is a challenge to civil rights.

Consequently, cities which are lively and crowded would become dead and depopulated very early at night, creating a fearless atmosphere for goondas, terrorists and thieves. The resolve of the petroleum dealers is nothing but an escape from reality instead of facing it boldly. If their demands are conceded today, it is imaginable what other business establishments will do afterwards. Ravikumar N.

Thiruvananthapuram

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