The Hindu Business Line : Bengal petroleum dealers stop lifting fuel

THE WEST Bengal Petroleum Dealers' Association has called for an indefinite strike from Friday protesting against irregularities in supply from oil marketing companies. Nearly 3,000 petrol pumps in the State are participating in the protest. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Kolkata , July 21

The West Bengal Petroleum Dealers Association (WBPDA), which controls a majority of over 3000 retail outlets in the State, has stopped lifting fuel from the oil marketing companies beginning Friday in protest against irregularities in supplies and demanding increase in commission.

While expecting an early solution to the impasse, all the oil companies have confirmed that the bunks have stockpiled to the maximum in preparation and that the State is unlikely to face any supply crunch before Monday.

West Bengal consumes roughly 100 thousand tonnes of auto-fuel every month. While HPCL and BPCL control a major share of the Kolkata market, IOC is the largest retailer in the rest of the State.

Unfair practices

When contacted, Mr Joydeb Sarkar, Secretary of WBPDA, said that while the oil companies had introduced strict marketing discipline guidelines and were taking punitive action against retailers if there was more than 4 per cent variation in the actual stock compared to the book entry, the retailers were receiving 3 to 3.75 per cent less in every consignment than they were paying for.

"For some inexplicable reason, we get 360 to 450 litres of less supplies in every consignment of 12,000 litres (one tanker load). We have raised the issue repeatedly to the companies, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and all concerned during last two years. However, our grievances were never addressed," Mr Sarkar said.

According to him, the oil companies have also turned down the request of the retailers to take charge of the consignment right from the depot.

Companies disagree

The companies, however, do not find much logic in the association's arguments. "There is no reason why the accepted norms of supplies be changed overnight", said a senior official from IndianOil. "We have already taken the issue to the State Consumer Affairs Ministry and are awaiting an early solution," he said.

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