Petrol dealers have announced that they would withdraw their agitation on Friday after petroleum companies assured them that their commission would be increased.
“The petroleum companies have assured us that they would increase the dealers’ commission and regularly review it. They have also granted a nominal immediate hike. Hence, we have decided to withdraw our agitation,” Ajay Bansal of the Consortium of Indian Petrol Dealers (CIPD) said here after a meeting with petroleum company representatives.
Uday Lodh, the president of the Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers Association (FAMPEDA), added: “They (petroleum companies) have granted us an immediate commission hike of 13.8 paise per litre of petrol and 10.2 paise per litre of diesel, and have assured a positive decision on our demands within 10 days.”
Mr Lodh also said: “Most of the petrol pump owners are incurring financial losses over the past five years. The commission paid to us only covers expenses on staff, power and maintenance. Other expenses like water bills are not covered. But the companies have nonetheless been expecting several better services from us, and we have thus been demanding the commission hike.”
Dealers at present get a commission of Rs 2.42 a litre on petrol and Rs 1.49 a litre on diesel. FAMPEDA is demanding Rs 2.95 a litre on petrol and Rs 2.10 a litre on diesel, i.e. a hike of 50 paise and 61 paise in commission for diesel and petrol.
Representatives of all three major oil companies - IndianOil, HPCL and BPCL - were present at the meeting held on Friday. The negotiations carried on till late evening as the companies did not yield to the dealers' demands. However, after CIPD members threatened an immediate nationwide agitation, the oil companies softened their stand.
