2200 petrol pumps to go on indefinite strike from midnight

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Mumbai, Sep 17 (UNI) As many as 2200 petrol pumps in Maharashtra will go on an indefinite strike from midnight tonight to protest against the non-fulfillment of their demands.

President of the Petroleum Dealers Association Ravi Shinde told UNI, their demands include lowering of sales tax on petrol and diesel in the state. Right now, it is 30 per cent on petrol and 34 per cent on diesel, he said.

Similarly, apart from a cut in sales tax, the dealers are also demanding a refund on sales tax.

In Mumbai, due to the Rent Control act, petrol pumps on private lands are facing the heat with the land owners not renewing their licenses and most of the petrol pumps are on the verge of closure. So far out of the total 256 pump stations in Mumbai, 80 have closed down.

The strike is also to protest the reduction of the profit margin of CNG dealers by 20 paise.

The petrol dealers also want the reports on the quantum of profit margin for them and evapouration losses by IIM-A and Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) respectively to be tabled in Parliament at the earliest.

Mr Shinde said autorickshaws, taxis, milk vans, garbage vehicles of civic bodies, and private vehicles will be affected due to the indefinite strike.

''We have asked petroleum dealers not to turn away ambulances from their pumps'', he said.

Mr Shinde lamented that the state government has refused to accept their demands which could have resulted in lowering the costs of petrol and diesel. He said the government told us that it cannot afford a cut in sales tax. Mr Shinde said the difference in sales tax between Maharashtra and the neighbouring states is about Rs three to four.

UNI MR WD PA RK1706

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