All the fuel pumps in Uttarakhand would observe ‘blackout’ on October 19 from 7 pm to 7.15 pm as part of the nation-wide agitation called by the pump owners, demanding revision of the dealers’ profit margins. In case the demands are not met by October 25 there will be another ‘blackout’ on October 26 for the same duration, they warned.
They would stop purchasing fuel from the oil companies on November 3 as part of the agitation programme. In case the situation remains unchanged there would be an indefinite closure of the fuel pumps from November 15.
The other demand being raised by the dealers is that ethanol and petrol must be rightly blended by the oil companies before being supplied to the dealers. There are around 243 such filling stations affiliated to Indian Oil Corporation in the State while Dehradun district has around 18 such pumps.
A patrol pump owner based in Dehradun said that the fuel pumps in the State will go for a shut-down on October 19 and October 26. They would not buy fuel from the oil companies on November 3. If the demands remain unaddressed they would resort to an indefinite shutdown from November 15.
The demands, he said, included change of formula for settling the dealers’ commission and a review on the ethanol blending programme by the Government. “Initially, we will go for a blackout for 15 minutes on October 19 and 26. If the Government remains apathetic we would be forced to go for indefinite closure of the pumps from November 15,” he added.
Meanwhile, the people rushed to the pumps in the city on Tuesday to have their vehicle tanks filled, given the rumour that the pumps would be closed for two days starting from October 19.
Ramesh Bisht, a Government employee, said that he had his bike’s tank filled on Tuesday after hearing that the pumps would remain closed for October 19 and 20. “Many like me lined up in the pump to stave off the fuel crisis during the two-day closure,” he said.
However, a petrol pump owner at Astley Hall said that it was a rumour. “Panic buying is taking place because of the rumour. We are going for a three-phase protest beginning from October 19. We have taken care of the interest of the buyers. This is why we would go for 15- minute shutdown on two days. However, we must go for indefinite closure from November 15 if things remain the same. We have no other option,” he said, adding that the hike in the commission effected by the oil marketing companies, Indian Oil Corporation limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation limited was too small.