State-owned oil marketing companies, Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation have urged their 54,000 dealers not to go on strike on October 13 as planned, as ‘most of their reasonable demands have been met’.
The Federation of All Petroleum Traders (FAIPT), The All India Petroleum Dealers Association (AIPDA) and the Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) had called for a one-day closure of outlets on October 13 and had further called for indefinite closure of sales and supplies with effect from October 27, 2017.
“We have requested them to call off the strike as most of their demands have been met. In case of failure to call off strike, required action will be taken the Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG).
“Petroleum products come under the Essential Commodities and action further actions will be taken under the provisions of the said act,” Balwinder Singh Canth, director-marketing, IOC, told The Hindu .
“In case of disruption, we will approach the state governments to ensure that public is not inconvenienced,” Mr. Canth said.
‘Six-monthly revision’
The dealers had demanded petroleum products be brought under the ambit of the GST, the removal of penalties under MDG and the revision of dealers’ commission every six months.
On bringing petroleum products under GST ambit, Mr. Singh said, “Our minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed desire to bring petrol and diesel under the GST and the expert committee is looking at it. It’s beyond the OMCs control.”
