India: 2,300 fuel operators resume activities after monumental strike
Petrol pumps in Haryana region, India, resumed normal services last Tuesday after operators went on indefinite strike on Monday due to the latest raise in diesel taxes.
Around 2,300 fuel retailers reopened their supply pumps after the State government representatives promised them to look into their demands of lowering the VAT (value added tax) on diesel fuel.
“The State government representatives assured us to look into our demand of lowering tax on diesel. We were assured that officials concerned will study the impact of hike in tax on the sale of diesel in the State in next 2-3 months and then appropriate decision will be taken,” said M. C. Gupta, director of All Haryana Petroleum Dealers Association, to The Hindu news portal.
Gupta added all petrol pumps had resumed their activities on Tuesday after deciding to call off the strike. However, he warned that if the state failed to meet their requirements the strike would resume. Retailers demand lower taxes on diesel than their neighbouring states for the “survival of operators”.
Drivers in Haryana were left in despair on Monday as the whole region ran out of fuel. In a state of around 26 million citizens, only some 30-40 gas stations directly owned by oil companies or the State government kept their fuel pumps running.
