Following the strike by petrol pumps owners and various taxi unions to protest Delhi Government’s refusal to cut value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel, the commuters in national Capital faced immense hardships in reaching their destinations. To make matter worse for the commuters was the strike called by the contractual employees of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).
The closure of petrol pumps and CNG filling stations was the result of the call given by Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA). One day strike by over 400 petrol pumps along with linked CNG dispensing units was held in protest against Delhi Government’s refusal to reduce VAT on fuels.
Reacting over the issue Nischal Singhania , President, Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) said that the Central Government had slashed the rate of petrol and diesel by `2.50 per litre each on September 4. “This was followed by reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) by various states including neighboring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh bringing relief to their residents. But Delhi Government refused to reduce VAT on fuel both petrol and diesel resulting in fuel becoming more expensive than bordering Haryana and Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
“Delhiites are visiting Gurugram and Noida to get their vehicles topped as fuel being cheaper than that in Delhi,” He said. “Due to difference in prices there has been a sharp drop of 50 to 60 per cent in sale of diesel in Delhi and 25 per cent in petrol in this quarter. Till the proposed morning on Tuesday, all the 400 pumps of Delhi will neither purchase nor sell Petrol, Diesel and CNG in protest,” he said.
He further said that the 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.
Meanwhile, reacting to the strike of the contractual employees, a DTC official said several employees tried to obstruct plying of buses and the concerned regional and depot managers have been directed to identify and take appropriate action against them. While leaders of contractual employees claimed that about “50 per cent” buses could not run due to the strike.
A protest was held at the DTC headquarters by an organisation of contractual employees demanding parity in wages, and taking back order for reducing wages. There were also reports that some employees tried to disrupt bus services at depots of the public transporter. “The strike will continue indefinitely with more employees joining it. Today, nearly 50 per cent buses were not on roads,” said Manoj Sharma, president of DTC Contractual Employees Union.
However, the buses ran packed to capacity as services were affected and also because the some taxi unions had given a call of strike.
Taxi and auto unions affiliated to Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti were also on strike Monday against the Delhi Government’s “anti transport policies” and impact on their employment due to cab aggregators.
“The strike was to express our resentment over failure of the Government to redress our grievances,” said Inderjeet Singh, chairman of All India Tour and Transport Association and convener of the joint forum.
“Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are losing their employment due to wrong transport polices of the Government and also due to low fares offered to commuters by cab aggregators,” he said.
“We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver-partner community, due to a small group of individuals. We remain committed to
serving the city and ensuring that our driver partners continue to access a stable income, while giving riders a convenient, reliable option to get around Delhi,” said an Uber spokesperson.