Petrol Pump Dealers’ Association on Friday announced to launch a 12-hour strike beginning today. The outfit claimed to have incurred loss amounting to lakhs after the government slashed tax on petrol and diesel.
The association, meanwhile, demanded compensation from oil companies. If dealers’ demands are not met by the oil companies, the association will knock the door of law to get justice. The association has also decided not to buy any product from the oil companies during strike.
Outfit president Sasanka Sekhar Sahu said, “We would like to request the Odisha and the Union governments that when they are reducing excise duty and VAT, they should reduce the price rate gradually. Due to sharp drop in petrol and diesel rate, petrol pump dealers are really finding it hard to run petrol kiosks."
He continued, "The government slashed the petrol and diesel price by Rs 9.50 per litre and diesel by Rs 7 per litre which led the dealers to suffer Rs 10-12 lakh loss over night. Keeping interest of common people in view, petrol pumps will remain opened in the day time and closed from 6 pm to 6 am for two consecutive days beginning May 27. Besides, dealers are requested not to buy any product from oil companies.”