Deora urges petroleum dealers to withdraw planned strike

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Petroleum Minister Murli Deora today called upon the dealers of petroleum products (petrol and diesel) to call off their proposed two-day strike starting April 13.

At a meeting with the representatives of the Federation of All India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT) here, Mr Deora pointed out that the Government has always been sympathetic to their genuine demands.

The Government will endeavour to take a decision on the demand of the FAIPT for increase in commission on petrol and diesel by May 1 after consultation with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), he said.

He hoped the dealers will consider that the strike serves nobody's cause and leads to totally avoidable inconvenience to the customers.

It may be recalled that the concerted efforts of Mr Deora resulted in Maharashtra government recently effecting substantial reduction in the sales tax on petrol and diesel which addressed a long pending demand of the retail dealers in Maharashtra.

Regarding the issue of raising stock variation ceiling, the representatives of the federation were informed that a study by Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) has already been commissioned to study the impact of different climatic conditions in India on petrol and diesel stocks.

The IIP will be submitting its report by middle of July which will be examined expeditiously for appropriate decision. The issue of stock variation requires in-depth and serious scientific studies before effecting any change in the present norms.

The meeting was attended by Mr A K Badhwar, President, FAIPT and other representatives of the FAIPT. The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel and senior officers of the Ministry were also present.

UNI