Ahead of 2019 polls, Modi govt announces new petrol pumps; dealers set to file case

BJP government’s pre-election move of distributing around 55,649 new petrol pumps, to be challenged in court by the apex body of petrol dealers (AIPDA), on grounds of contradictory policy

Ahead of 2019 polls, Modi govt announces new petrol pumps; dealers set to file case
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IANS

Barely 72 hours after the Centre announced a pre-election bonanza of distributing an astounding 55,649 new petrol pumps in the country, the apex body of petrol dealers began to oppose the decision.

They plan to challenge the move in court, a top office-bearer said on Wednesday, November 28.

The All India Petrol Dealers Association (AIPDA) President Ajay Bansal said that the government's latest move (of November 25) appeared contrary to its own policy and the dealers would question its legal validity.

On one hand, the Centre has announced the closure of petrol pumps in India replacing them with alternative fuels by 2025. But, now they are publishing advertisements for allotting the second string of new petrol pumps. So what exactly is this policy?
Ajay Bansal, President of All India Petrol Dealers Association (AIPDA) 

Presently, India has 56,000 retail petrol bunks of the three government oil marketing companies -- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), besides another 6,000 outlets owned by private companies.

From these fuel stations, the average monthly sales for the three Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are between 120-130 kilolitre with an average increase in demand on petrol-diesel of around 4%pa.

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