Tribal people of the Agency areas in the State, tourists and those visiting tribal areas from the plains, need no longer rely on the few petrol/diesel pumps or on unscrupulous traders for their fuel needs.
The Visakhapatnam-headquartered Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) has set up 13 petrol stations in the tribal areas of the State to provide quality fuel in association with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) and the oil companies.
Tribal Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu formally inaugurated a petrol/diesel pump, set up by the GCC, here on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering, he spoke on the welfare schemes launched by the Chandrababu Naidu government for the welfare of tribal people. Motorists had to fill their fuel tanks only at Paderu, Araku or Chintapalli for the entire Agency until recently. This has led to traders selling petrol/diesel in bottles and the consumers had to compromise on the quality and quantity.
He appreciated the GCC for establishing the fuel outlets at a total cost of Rs.13 crore. Of the 11 pumps in Visakhapatnam district, 10 were in the Agency and one was in Narsipatnam.
While four bunks were set up under the ITDA, seven were established by the GCC. All the bunks would be managed by the GCC. Each bunk would be manned by a manager and six assistants. The services of local, unemployed tribal youths was being engaged on outsourcing basis.Mr. Kishore Babu said that besides petrol, diesel and lubricants, GCC’s value added products and branded products of Walmart would be made available at the mini-super bazaars to be set up at the petrol stations.
ITDA Project Officer M. Harinarayan said that despite the upward mobility of people, there were only three petrol pumps till recently. The construction of nine outlets was completed and two more at Upper Sileru and Sunkarmetta would be completed in two months’time. We received a request for one more petrol outlet at Dumbriguda and it would be considered favourably.
Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of GCC ASPS Ravi Prakash said that non-tribal people could not open petrol pumps in Scheduled Areas. GCC has taken up that role and was targeting an additional annual turnover of Rs. 75 crore to Rs. 80 crore through these pumps. Around 70 local tribal people would be provided employment through them.
MLC Sandhyarani spoke. Former Chairperson of the Zilla Parishad Vanjangi Kantamma was present.
