Petrol pumps in HP to remain closed on Friday

Shimla, Apr 9 (UNI) Petrol pump owners in Himachal Pradesh today said all pumps in the state will remain closed on Friday to impress upon the government to hike their commission on sale of petrol and to do away with fines on evaporation losses.

Addressing a press conference here, HP Petroleum Dealers Association vice president Deepak Baweja said the strike, called the Federation of All India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT), would be effective from April 12 midnight.

He said, at present, the dealers were only getting a commission of one per cent per litre and this has remained unchanged for the last 10 years.

Even while the petrol prices were touching the sky, the dealers never benefited from that, he said. ''We want five per cent hike in the total invoice value.'' Mr Baweja said the government should also stop imposing fines on the dealers on losses due to evaporation of petrol.

The association has also decided to go on an indefinite strike from April 27 midnight if the petroleum ministry did not meet its demands, he said.

He also demanded the constitution of an appellate authority, which the dealers could be approached against the high handedness of the officials of oil companies.

The association vice president also demanded a reduction in sales tax on petrol and diesel to bring it par with the neighbouring states.

UNI