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All 400-odd petrol pumps along with linked CNG dispensing units in the national capital will remain shut on Monday, 22 October, in protest against Delhi government's refusal to reduce VAT on fuels, the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) said in a statement.
There are about 400 petrol pumps in Delhi which also have linked compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and all of them will remain closed for nearly 24 hours in protest, from 6 am onwards, on 22 October and remain closed till 5 am on 23 October, it said.
Responding to the news of the petrol pumps being closed, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, called it a “BJP sponsored strike”.
Earlier, the DPDA president Nischal Singhania had said, "The central government had slashed the rate of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre each on 4 September. This was followed by reduction of VAT (value added tax) by various states, including neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, bringing relief to their residents.
In comparison to Delhi, fuel rates in bordering states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are cheaper, he said.
Because of high price in Delhi and low prices in states like UP and Haryana, customers are deserting the petrol pumps in Delhi leading to huge drop in sales, Singhania said.
He said the festival season is peak season for the sale of fuel due to social travelling by residents.
"DPDA urges the Delhi government to immediately reduce VAT on petrol and diesel and encourage commuters to buy euro VI fuel and save the livelihood of employees and owners of petrol pumps of Delhi and also save state's revenue loss," the statement said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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