The state government has given temporary permission to the KSRTC to purchase diesel from private dealers and 16 Supplyco retail outlets. Oil companies have agreed to issue separate retail licences for Supplyco, when it takes over the pumps located at KSRTC depots, subject to the approval of the Centre.
Chandy said that not even a single schedule of the KSRTC will be curtailed on account of the diesel-subsidy crisis and certain changes to the existing laws were necessary to facilitate the filling of fuel. He said once Supplyco takes over the diesel stations, various government and quasi-government institutions can also make use of the facility. He said that the government is committed to resolving the crisis in the KSRTC. “There are 4,000 pensioners in the Corporation. The management is not able to pay pension from its coffers and relies on loans. The KSRTC has been asked to give a detailed report on how the government can help it”, he added.
When asked whether the pension liability was thrust upon the KSRTC and the government should take over the liability, Chandy said that in the present circumstances such an option was not possible.
Source: New Indian Express
