Close to half of India’s petrol pumps mostly in the five south Indian states and parts of Maharashtra may remain shut on Sundays, starting May 14. The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) have proposed a Sunday as a holiday system.
Business Standard quoted the CIPD president AD Sathyanarayan saying, "In line with the Prime Minister's appeal to reduce fuel consumption, the CIPD has decided to request its members to declare Sunday as a holiday from 14 May 2017." However, an exception will be made for emergency vehicles like ambulances, he told BS.
Other than a Sundays off policy, the CPID is also mulling an eight-hour work day from May.
A member of the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association told TNM, “We have been working round the clock and this will be a one day holiday for us.”
Although, the reason stated by CPID is reducing fuel consumption, BS reported that other petrol pump associations have alleged that it was a pressure tactic against the central government, regarding demand for higher commission. The government is yet to make its decision on the same.
Consumers, however, are not in favour of this proposal.
"I don't think the consumption is going to go down because of this. People will consume as much fuel as before, just that they will do it before and after Sunday," KA Sajeev, a Kochi resident told TNM.
Sajeev added that while it won’t help in cutting down consumption, “It's going to have an adverse effect as people travel a lot more during this vacation time.”
"It is inconvenient and not necessary at all. Holidays should be given to the workers, but it can be done without having the petrol pumps closed," Harshita, a resident of Hyderabad said.
When asked if this was against consumer interest, the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association member retorted, “It is just one day's fuel and the habit of people to go and fill fuel whenever they want should change.”
