The All Manipur BPCL Dealers Cum Transporters Association has been dissolved as retail outlets (Petrol Pumps) running under Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) face severe issues due to the prevailing unrest in Manipur since May 3.
Retail outlets of BPCL told the media in Imphal on Monday that by opening 41 retail outlets under BPCL the market share of BPCL in Manipur was around 30-40 per cent. However, many of the retail outlets of BPCL have remained defunct due to the present unrest and the increase of other oil companies in Manipur.
While BPCL retail outlets take 30-40 percent in Manipur petroleum market, a retail outlet is able to sell a tank truck load of petrol within 5 days. However, in the present scenario a retail outlet can hardly sell such quantities of petrol in 20 days, they said.
Earlier, a retail outlet of BPCL was able to sell petrol up to 10 Tank Truck loads in a month but now it is hardly selling 2 tank truck loads in a month.
Meanwhile, since there is no oil depot for BPCL in Manipur, a tank truck has to travel around 1,600 km (to and fro) to provide petrol to the people of Manipur.
Due to the prevailing unrest, employees who travel from Churachandpur to Imphal and other districts have also stopped. Even people have stopped long distance traveling at tourist spots. Due to these circumstances many retail outlets have become defunct.
Of the 41 BPCL retail outlets, those outlets that are opened at hill districts have already shut down and others that are opened at valleys are unable to pay loan debts at banks.
For the welfare of the employees at BPCL retail outlets, the members of the association have decided to dissolve it immediately.
