For first time, a cooperative to run fuel station 

Warangal: Being revived after a prolonged inactivity for about one and half decades, Kalpalatha Super Bazaar, a one of its kind supermarket in cooperative sector, is all set to roll out a fuel filling station under its aegis.

It may be noted that the super bazaar, spread in 4,471 square yards area and situated at Rangampet in Warangal, was registered as The Cooperative Stores Limited in 1962. It has become dysfunctional in 2000 when the term of the then executive committee came to a close.

Later, none cared to hold elections to elect a new body and to run its operations. Its operations resumed on September 2 this year, courtesy to Warangal (West) MLA D Vinay Bhasker, who took the initiative to revive the store with active support from the State government. Now, with the super market doing good business, it is aiming to expand its operations.

In a meeting held on October 1, the MLA asked the committee members to chalk out plans to set up a petrol pump. The plans were prepared accordingly. The ‘Bhoomi Puja’ for the construction of the fuel filling station on the premises of the supermarket is scheduled to be held on Friday marking the ‘Cooperative Week’ celebrations, Vinay Bhaker told The Hans India here on Thursday.

He further informed that the fuel filling station may likely to have a tie up with Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) to supply petrol and diesel for the vehicles used by it. It has got two-fold benefit, it offers employment to few persons and the corporation will get quality fuel.

There are ambitious plans to shape Kalpalatha Super Bazaar, a centre of profitable economic activity. Efforts are being made to produce jute and cloth bags to serve as alternate to plastic bags which have been posing threat to environment.

Women Self-Help Groups will be involved in making bags and other products useful to the common public so that they can earn some money. Vinay Bhaskar said talks were being held with the government seeking to waive Rs 28 lakh dues the society needed to pay to the government.

“I have an emotional attachment with the Kalpalatha Super Bazaar, which as a youngster I used to visit along with my mother to buy notebooks and textbooks. Once, it was a one-point stop for many in the city to purchase their day-to-day commodities,” the MLA said.

“Hence I decided to see that its past glory is revived,” he added. He succeeded in seeing that elections were held to elect a new executive committee comprising six directors on August 24. Later on August 27, president and vice-president have been elected unanimously.

By James Edwin