Nagpur: A petrol pump run by Indian Oil at Samvidhan Square (RBI Square) is going to be closed by the end of the month. The reason being the unit of Indian Army, UMANG, has terminated the lease agreement with the company and initiated a process to take back its land, said Rajesh Nimbalkar, National Coordinator, All India Unorganised Workers Congress, affiliated to All India Congress Committee.
Addressing a press conference at Patrakar Bhawan on Friday, Nimbalkar said the closure of fuel pump would render the workers jobless. There are about 63 workers employed at the pump, it sold 15,000 litres of petrol and 8,000 litres of diesel per day, and they worked in shifts as the pump would cater to citizens 24×7. The pump’s ideal location ensured that it catered to Nagpurians and also those leaving or coming from outstation as it was located on national highway. Its proximity to Civil Lines also ensured that the maximum number of vehicles deployed in Government offices would fill-up fuel at the IOC pump at RBI Square.
Nimbalkar said even Nagpurians are going to face severe inconvenience due to closure of the fuel pump as it will put pressure on other fuel stations which are already located in congested places. Nimbalkar also questioned the need for land as the defence services are already having vast stretches of open lands. This strip of land is quite small and the fuel pump is a convenient stop over for many in the city.
Post closure, the 63 workers at the pump would be rendered jobless and who would be responsible for their sorry fate, he questioned. The Congress delegation met with officials of IOC to request for absorption of these workers in other places but the management expressed helplessness. In such circumstances, Nimbalkar has urged Nagpurians to take lead and build pressure on administration to avoid closure of the fuel pump at RBI Square.
