Petrol Pump Operators To Strike On Monday,April 23

Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 14:35 [IST]

Over 40,000 petrol pump operators across the country will go on a strike on next Monday, April 23 demanding a hike in commission on petrol by about 27 paise per litre and diesel by 14 paise per litre. An official panel had submitted its report to the government recommending a hike on commission.

The petrol pump operators are pressing the government to implement the recommendation of its own committee. The committee had recommended a dealer commission of 0.39 paisa per litre on petrol and 0.17 paisa a litre on diesel. But the ministry gave only 0.27 paisa for petrol and 0.15 paisa for diesel.

Federation of All India Petrol Traders secretary general Ajay Bansal: "If government accepts our demand to implement the Apurva Chandra committee report and frame guidelines to open new pumps, we will call off our token strike of April 23, else we will even go for an indefinite closure from April 30."

Besides the hike in commission, dealers are also opposing state oil firms' plan to open 12,000 new pumps in the same market that would reduce their sale and squeeze margins. Meanwhile, Oil Ministry officials said that they are considering the committee's report on raising commission. The ministry added that it won't take a generous approach towards the dealers' demand of stop opening new pumps.

Article Published On: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 12:30 [IST]

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