Anantapur: Petrol bunks to be set up at market yards to generate revenue

Anantapur: Market yards with large marketing space in acres, which were once the most happening places and nerve centres for economic activity revolving around farmers has had over the years lost its relevance and are on the losing side on the financial front.

The market yard managers in a bid to reverse the trend and redefine its role and existence has hit upon the idea to establish petrol bunks in the market yards as part of revenue boosting measures.

The state government had given clearance to the proposal to establish petrol bunks in their yards for boosting their revenue for overall financial management including payment of salaries of the market yard staff.

Amendments to the existing laws by the Central and state governments and introduction of concept of online trading have altered economic scales and the marketing department is engrossed in finding avenues for redefining market yards and make them relevant by initiating economic reforms.

As many as 11 market yards have been zeroed in for establishing petrol bunks in the district.

Hindupur, Raptadu, Anantapur, Dharmavaram, Gorantla, Puttaparthi, Penukonda, Rayadurg, Uravakonda, Gooty and Guntakal market yards in the first phase will set up petrol bunks. The marketing department is still yet to decide the modalities in this regard.

Whether to run and manage the bunks by itself or give it to an agency to manage or to ask the oil companies to manage it for the marketing department is yet to be decided.

The department officials will be holding discussions with the oil marketing companies who are sending their officials during October 29 to November 1, to conclude and agreement in this regard.