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The All Kerala Federation of Petroleum Traders (AKFPT) will close their outlets for 48 hours on July 16 and 17 in the State.
This is in protest against the oil marketing companies’ decision to open new retail outlets in every nook and corner of Kerala.
The federation alleged that the companies had initiated the steps in this regard without conducting proper viability study.
Kerala has a transportable road length of 17,000 km approximately and has almost 2,200 outlets already. These retail outlets are having less than 150 KL monthly sales of both petrol and diesel.
With a minimal commission gaining from the sale, these outlets cannot survive and find it extremely difficult to meet their ends. Majority of the existing outlets are on the verge of closure, but are unable to do so due to fear of losing their lands, Mr M. Radhakrishnan, secretary of the federation, said.
Stringent guidelines
The State government had introduced stringent guidelines for opening new outlets in the State when AKFPT approached the government raising concern of the matter, he said, adding that the Kerala High Court had also given guidelines in opening new retail outlets in the State.
The matter is now pending before the Supreme Court. However, the oil marketing companies had started advertising for 500 new outlets in the state, he said.
This is only a token strike. If no result is achieved, the federation intends to go on an indefinite strike after consultation with national federation, he added.
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