Day-long strike of petrol pump owners catches commuters unaware

On Monday, many drivers were seen queuing up outside petrol pumps, unaware about the one-day strike called by Pune’s petrol dealers association against the implementation of local body tax

Around 350 petrol pumps in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) areas went on strike on Monday to protest against the two per cent local body tax (LBT) implemented by the state government.

WE’RE CLOSED: Pune’s petrol dealers assocation have threatened to go on an indefinite strike, if their demand for abolishing the Local Body Tax (LBT) is not met with within a fortnight by the government.

Commuters were left in the lurch, as most were unaware that petrol pumps would be closed on the first working day of the week, and many people were seen queuing up outside the pumps with their cars, waiting for service to start.

“As many as 350 petrol pumps went on a day strike on Monday. We have forwarded a letter to the district collector and asked them remove the LBT charge.

If there is no response from their side within a fortnight, we will go on an indefinite strike,” informed Ali Daruwala, spokesperson of the petrol dealers association of Pune.

“The cost of one tanker is about Rs 9 lakh and the LBT of two per cent will cost us around Rs 18,000; we’ll be running into losses after that. We are therefore demanding that the state remove LBT or we’ll go on an indefinite strike,” he added.

Many commuters had a hard time because of the protest; they reached office late, while others decided to take the bus or auto rickshaw to commute to office.

350
The approximate number of petrol pumps in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) areas that went on strike yesterday

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