The Hindu : Kerala News : Call to put people’s needs first

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Monday, Aug 25, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala

Call to put people’s needs first

Petroleum dealers in Kerala have just withdrawn, in the context of a writ petition that came up in the High Court, a threat they had held out to restrict their hours and days of business in the face of what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:

Illogical move

I do not agree with the move by the petroleum dealers to curtail the hours of business and to take a day off on Sundays. While their concern about safety is understandable, the emergencies one may face have been completely disregarded by them. We are now living in a world that moves on fuel. How could shorter hours of business make any difference to their safety? The risk is the same, even in your own backyard.

The individual outlet operators will be hard hit by the move. There are unscrupulous elements around to take advantage of the situation. They will try to store fuel to sell it in the black market to customers who will be willing to pay any price.

Kunnath Koru Kuttan Nair

Cherupulassery

Close late, open earlier

All sections of people face the threat from burglars and thieves. Though there is patrolling by the police, there has been an increase in such incidents. But, the decision of petroleum dealers to restrict their hours of business is not acceptable since there is another motive behind this decision. This is to cut their expenditure. Since most of the goods carriers and long-distance bus services ply during the night, it is advisable to close retail outlets at 10.30 p.m. and open at 4.30 a.m. It will help private bus operators to fill up the fuel tanks before starting the services. Night patrolling by the police should be intensified on the highways to give a sense of security

Madhavanunni

Pattambi

Blatant injustice

The decision of the petroleum dealers in Kerala to work only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and to remain closed on Sundays is doubtless a blatant injustice done to vehicle users and the public in general. The decision also violates the provisions of the Kerala petroleum dealers’ licence order. The dealers’ contention that there are chances of looting at pump stations working late in the night, lesser profit and that unscientific load shedding has been imposed, cannot be taken at face value. Vehicles have now become essential and would be more so in the years to come, with more vehicles plying the roads than even before. Government officials concerned have to come forward to take action against errant dealers.

K.K. Kunhikannan

Koyilandy

Move that boomeranged

Kerala is a paradise for strike-mongers. However, the threat raised by petroleum dealers of restricting their hours of business has boomeranged on them. They used the writ petitions filed in court against the move as a face-saving excuse to withdraw the threat. The dealers’ move was aimed at persuading petroleum companies to yield to their demands, but it became directed at the public. The public debate that the move triggered turned out to be decisive. The episode showed that the public has a vital role to play in these issues.

A.C. Jayarajan

Kanhangad

Study the problems

In the first place, the dealers had no locus standi to take such a decision and make the announcement. It is good they have rectified the mistake.

More than anybody else, petroleum dealers have to adhere to the guidelines issued by the government from time to time, as the mobility of the public depends on the uninterrupted supply of fuel. The issuance of licence to run petrol pumps pre-supposes adherence to and acceptance of the terms and conditions laid down by the oil companies and the government.

Of course, the petroleum dealers have their own tales of woe. Their workers too have their own grievances. The State government should appoint a committee to study the functioning of the pumps and the grievances of the dealers and the workers. On the basis of such as report, necessary steps should be taken to address the problems plaguing the various stake-holders in the sector.

N.K. Vijayan

Kizhakkambalam

Abetting hoarding

The proposal by petroleum dealers to regulate their hours of business will only add to the woes of vehicle owners who are already reeling under the burden of the recent hike in fuel prices. The move seems to be irrational. It will pave the way for hoarding and adulteration of fuel. Even now, at places where petrol pumps are scarce petrol is hoarded and sold in large quantities and one has pay four or five rupees more for each litre. This situation will worsen if working hours in petrol pumps are curtailed. The petrol sold thus will be neither pure nor properly measured. If the dealers have any grievances, these should be solved by the government by framing the necessary rules. In short, since Kerala is a consumer State dependent on neighbouring States for almost everything, it would be a blow to the people and the State exchequer if petroleum dealers restrict their working hours.

G. Laxman

Adoor

In hours of crises

It is difficult for vehicle owners to check the fuel position in their vehicles frequently. This is more so in the case of autorickshaws and taxis which are on roads both during day and night. Accidents, illness or a woman developing labour pain may happen when there is no fuel in the vehicle. If petrol pumps are closed, what would happen in such hours of crises? It could even lead to deaths. Vehicle owners should be thankful to petrol pump owners for cancelling their move to shorten working hours of petrol pumps. Since petrol pump owners have acted to avoid difficulty to the public, it is now the duty of the government to solve the problems that prompted them to consider curtailment of their working hours.

V. Surendran Nair

Puthukode

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