Petrol Stop

OBCs to get 27% quota for petrol, LPG outlets

Saturday, 21 January 2012

21 Jan 2012;timesofindia.indiatimes.com:NEW DELHI: The UPA government is set to carve the biggest pork barrel in recent times by changing the marketing guidelines for state-run fuel retailers to reserve 27% of new petrol pumps and cooking gas dealerships for OBCs after the model poll code gets over. As first reported by TOI on October 19, the oil ministry has forced state-run fuel retailers to roll out 11,600 new petrol pumps, a bulk of which would be in the poll-bound states. The ministry is changing the guidelines to extract the maximum benefit of that move by bringing in reservation for a big chunk of voters. The initiative has been stuck because the model code of conduct bars government from announcing any popular initiative to deny any ruling dispensation from influencing voters. The oil ministry's corridors in New Delhi's Shastri Bhavan are expected to see a rush of favour-seekers once the code ends in early March, harking back to days when quotas and VIP references held key to a cooking gas connection or a petrol pump. The present guidelines reserve 25% of new pumps for SC and ST applicants. The new guidelines would see that reduced to 22.5%, while 27% dealerships would be reserved for OBCs. The remaining 50% of the pumps would be for general category candidates. About 33% of the locations in each category are reserved for women belonging to that particular category. In addition, physically handicapped, former/martyred paramilitary/police personnel, freedom fighters and outstanding sportspersons would also get quota in each of the three categories - SC/ST, OBC and general. Physically-handicapped persons get 5% reservation, while paramilitary/police/government personnel and defence personnel are each allotted 8% of new petrol pumps. Another 2% reservation is provided for freedom fighters and outstanding sportspersons, taking the overall reservation to 50%.