Petrol pumps remain closed following indefinite strike

Pune, Sep 18 (UNI) Petrol pumps remained closed here from midnight last night in response to an indefinite strike called by the Petroleum Dealers' Association to protest against the non-fulfillment of their demands, including lowering of sales tax on petrol and diesel in the State.

All India Motor Transport Congress President Baba Dhumal told UNI that the petrol dealers' strike in the city was mostly successful except for the company run petrol pumps, barely two to three in the district, were open.

''The strike is successful as 99 per cent pumps in the city are closed. There are a total of 290 petrol pumps in this district. So far nobody has talked to us but we have information that the state Finance minister Jayant Patil is most likely to hold talks with the association members late this evening in Mumbai,'' he said.

Since yesterday, long serpentine queues were seen with people filling up petrol to avoid last minute distress.

Presently, in the state the sales tax is 30 per cent on petrol and 34 per cent on diesel, apart from a cut in sales tax, the dealers are also demanding a refund on sales tax.

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