AHMEDABAD: Petroleum dealers across Gujarat observed a ‘black day’ on Thursday, protesting the absence of an increase in dealers’ margins on petrol, diesel and CNG sale for the past four years.
All members of the Federation of Gujarat Petroleum Dealers’ Associations (FGPDA), i.e. some 4,000 petroleum dealers, did not buy fuel from oil companies on Thursday. This is the second time in August when the dealers did not purchase fuel from oil companies, they did not petrol and diesel on August 12 as well.
Continuing their protest, petroleum dealers will not purchase fuel from oil companies on Aug ust 26 as well.
Dhimant Ghelani, general secretary, FGPDA, said, “The margin of dealers has not been increased for four years. A petroleum dealer gets a margin of Rs 3 for every litre of petrol purchased, Rs 2 for every litre of diesel and Rs 1.75 for every kg of CNG. Despite representations to oil companies, our demands have not been met and therefore this black day was observed.”
Sale of CNG was also halted at all stations in the state for an hour i.e. from 1pm to 2pm on Thursday, in protest.
Dealers say they have suffered losses due to the lockdown and restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 and it is time that their demands for an increase in margins is met.
According to FGPDA estimates, 1.46 crore litres of diesel and 72 lakh litres of petrol are sold every day in Gujarat.
