DKUPDA to hold state-level petroleum dealers’ conference

DKUPDA to hold state-level petroleum dealers’ conference

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 9, 2011 : DK and Udupi District Petroleum Dealers Association (DKUPDA) will organize a state-level conference on Nov 26 – 27 in Kundapur.

 

Satish N. Kamath, the conference committee chairman, addressed reporters at a press conference held yesterday, during which he stated that the conference is meant to provide a platform for the exchange of thoughts and information regarding the petroleum trade, which has been threatened for the past 10 years by factors such as unhealthy competition among oil companies, shrinking margins, and so on.

Stating that petroleum dealers are against the recent hike in petroleum prices, which is having an adverse effect on them, he said that unusually high petrol prices deplete margins further and increase their working capital.

Speaking about the challenges in the petroleum trade, he said that expenses related to interest rates, hidden bank charges, evaporation losses, salary, electricity rates, and frequent power cuts have made things difficult for petroleum dealers. Moreover, Karnataka is an expensive state as far as fuel prices are concerned, owing to the higher sales tax and entry tax in the state, he said.

Further, he said that the extra 3000 petrol pumps called for by oil marketing companies is posing a serious threat to the petroleum trade. He said that the oil companies are simply proving their double standards by claiming that they are running a loss because of high crude oil rates and appreciation of the dollar, while simultaneously called for the launching of new petrol pumps, each of which cost crores of rupees.

Regarding variations in price of petrol in southern parts of Karnataka, he said that the government has to take measures to check this.

DKUPDA President Vishwas Shenoy said that, in order to increase the quality of service, the association has decided to extend services such as clean toilets, neat housekeeping, free air, and windshield cleaning while extending working hours. The purpose of the conference is to inform dealers and to encourage entrepreneurs to take up the petroleum trade, he added..

He also said that Rajyasabha MP Oscar Fernandes, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Minister for Power, Food, and Civil Supplies Shobha Karandlaje, MLA Haladi Shrinivas Shetty, and former union minister Jayaprakash Hegde will be the chief guests at the inaugural function.

Aithappa Alva, the secretary of the conference committee; Sudhir Bhandary, the secretary of DKUPDA; and Muralidhara Prabhu were also present at the press conference.