Petrol pump dealers to protest outside UP assembly in Oct

Petrol Pump Dealers Association of Uttar Pradesh will stage a protest outside the state assembly to demand reduction in VAT on diesel, petrol and for abolition of entry tax on crude oil.
"The petrol pump dealers in 15 districts of western UP have unanimously decided to stage protest outside the state assembly in Lucknow in the beginning of October," Ghaziabad district General Secretary of UP Petrol Pump Dealers' Association Prem Mohan Singhal said during a meeting convened here yesterday.
A similar decision was also taken by Eastern UP petrol pump owners.
Singhal further said that the state government was charging a fixed VAT of Rs 9.74 per litre on diesel and Rs 7.75 on petrol irrespective of frequent variation in market price.

To mark their protest, the UP petrol pump dealers abstained from taking delivery of petrol and diesel on September 15 from 22 depots throughout the state.
Citing example of other states, Singhal said that the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh were charging uniform VAT on petrol and diesel.

Only UP government was charging 5 per cent entry tax on crude oil. No other state is levying tax on entry of crude, he claimed.
Lower rates of petrol and diesel in Delhi and Haryana is encouraging smuggling in western UP, resulting in lower sale at petrol pumps, he alleged.

In case UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav doesn't pay heed to their demands, the Petrol Pump Dealers Association can go on an indefinite strike and stop lifting petrol and diesel from 22 supply depots in UP, Singhal added.