Movement curbs hit petrol, diesel sales in JSR, job losses likely

Jamshedpur: The curbs imposed over trade and movement of people during the partial lockdown in Jharkhand have badly hit the sale of petro products in Jamshedpur and workers involved in this sector could lose their jobs soon. The health safety week (partial lockdown) in the state came into effect on April 22 and has been extended.
According to the Association of Petroleum Product Dealers, the sale of petrol has nosedived by 50% in the last 15 days while for diesel, the sales have dipped to 35%. However, on highways near the city outskirts, fuel pumps have reported brisk sales of diesel because of the movement of heavy vehicles. Under normal conditions, the 35 fuel outlets in the Jamshedpur city area sell two lakh litres of petrol and 2.5 lakh litres of diesel daily.
The dealers also rued that their supply chain has also been affected by the curb and staff crunch as many were infected. Sources said many workers at fuel depots have tested positive and only a handful of people are on duty.
As many drivers and their family members were also infected, tankers are being loaded only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays a week.
Sources said at the depots, staff are reporting for duty on alternative days, which is having its toll on the supply of petrol and diesel in the Steel City outlets. Moreover, tankers are being loaded on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only. The sources added that many of the tanker drivers and their families have tested positive.
The Jamshedpur unit president of the dealers' association, Rajiv Singh, said the hike in prices of the petro products is also another reason for the dip in sales. He said people are now thinking twice before using their vehicles.
"If the dip in sales continues, many workers are going to be jobless soon," Singh added.