SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 21: Despite government’s warning, the petrol pump operators in the coal belt as well as across the state have put the shutters down of their refilling stations as part of pre announced 12 hours strike (6am to 6 pm) today as they demand for 7% VAT reduction.
All 171 petrol pumps in Dhanbad and 1,400 across the state including GT Road based Reliance refilling centers are closed from 6 am as per the scheduled strike.
However, the state government has declared the strike as illegal under Essential Commodities Act 1955 Section 2 A. Special secretary of state government Chandrashekhar Prasad has in this regard issued a notice to keep the pumps open.
Jharkhand Petroleum Dealers Association (JPDA) and Coalfield Petroleum Dealers Association ( CPDA) have given a joint call of a 12 hours strike demanding 7% reduction ( from 22% to 17%) in VAT on petrol and diesel in the state.
Claiming 100% success of refilling centers in the state as well as in Dhanbad, CPDA secretary Sanjiv Rana said that the strike has evoked massive support.
“Till government reduces the 7 % VAT we will intensify our agitation further for survival. We are ready to get arrested for strike,” said Sanjiv Rana at Green View petrol pump in Dhanbad.
As per the CPDA official, following one day strike petrol pumps operators in Dhanbad faced loss of 570 KL petrol, dises sale. In Dhanbad per day diesel consumption is 334 KL and 10300 KL in a month while petrol consumption is 217 KL in a day and 6500 KL in a month.
Due to strike commercial vehicles especially auto and private vehicles suffered. Even some ambulances were seen returning from the refilling center in coal city. “ We refilled petrol after earning in a day. We have no stored money to refill in advance in the wake of the strike. So I parked the vehicle,” said Rajesh Mandal , one of the auto drivers.
