M'rashtra petrol pump strike called off

Petrol station dealers decide this after an assurance from Petroleum Ministry that it would consider their demands.

Petrol station dealers in Maharashtra on Tuesday called off their indefinite strike after the Petroleum Ministry assured them of considering their demands, including lower sales tax on auto fuel.

Representatives from the Mumbai chapter of Maharashtra Petroleum Dealers Association, who called on Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora in New Delhi, were assured by him that their demands would be considered.

The dealers went on strike on Sunday midnight demanding a reduction in the 33 per cent sales tax imposed on diesel in the state, saying the high tax led to flight of business to neighbouring states of Goa, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat where the rate was much less.

About 2,200 filing stations were shut down across Maharashtra after the strike commenced. However, about 40 pumps in Mumbai and 700 around the state were supplying fuel.

The meeting with the petroleum dealers was also attended by Civil Aviation Minister Prafful Patel and Petroleum secretary MS Srinivasan.

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