GUWAHATI, Sept 18 � The North East India Petroleum Dealers� Association (Greater Guwahati unit) has extended its support to the indefinite protest closure of petrol pumps called by the Federation of All India Petroleum Traders from 6 am of September 20.
The petroleum traders across the country will resort to this indefinite protest demanding a raise in their commission from the existing 2 per cent to 5 per cent.
Addressing mediapersons here, president of the North East India Petroleum Dealers� Association Rajib Goswami said that the petrol pumps here would get dry on September 19th itself. �This indefinite closure will be supported by all petrol pumps in the State,� said Goswami adding that the association has decided to support the closure as the demand is highly justified.
Apart from demanding a raise in their commission, the petroleum traders have been insisting that no new petrol pump should be permitted to be opened as per the order of the Ministry of Petroleum. It has been pointed out by the petroleum traders that mushrooming growth of petrol pumps is affecting the business of the existing dealers.
The petroleum traders have also been demanding a reciprocal system of quality check alleging that they are in a position to conduct the density test only while receiving the products from the oil companies whereas the government and oil companies conduct innumerable tests on the samples taken from the petrol pumps. �This is completely discriminatory and illogical. There should be a common way for quality check. Or we should be provided with a device so that everyone can check the quality including the government, oil companies, consumers and the dealers too,� said Goswami.
