Thiruvananthapuram: In response to increased gang attacks on petrol pumps across the state, pumps in Kerala will remain closed from 8 pm tonight to 6 am tomorrow. The move is a protest against the lack of effective government intervention despite the attacks. The All Kerala Federation of Petroleum Traders (AKFPT) has declared their intention to escalate the protest if the government fails to take decisive action.
They expressed the intention to restrict the operating hours of pumps to only 10 pm from March if stronger measures are not taken. Some individuals are constantly arriving at pumps at night with bottles when there are laws prohibiting the filling of fuel in bottles. Officials of the Petroleum Traders Association said that when they are denied fuel, they usually become violent. They emphasise the need for a law to ensure the safety of pumps and the employees.
Officials have announced that 14 Yatra Fuels outlets owned by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will be opened in the event of the closure of private petrol pumps across the state on December 31.
KSRTC has informed that the public can refuel at ‘Yatra Fuels’ outlets in various locations, including Thiruvananthapuram East Fort, Vikas Bhavan, Kilimanoor, Chadayamangalam, Ponkunnam, Cherthala, Mavelikkara, Munnar, Muvattupuzha, Paravur, Chalakudi, Thrissur, Guruvayur, and Kozhikode.
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