Govt calls petro retailers for meet

MUMBAI: Even as the petrol and diesel dealers in Maharashtra began their indefinite strike on Monday demanding a cut in sales tax, the state government has called a meeting of the agitating fuel retailers with finance minister Jayant Patil on November 23.

The sales tax commissioner will also be present at the meeting, which could be advanced to November 22. The state levies 33% sales tax on auto fuels, one of the highest in India.

KP Bakshi, secretary of food and civil supplies, said till Monday morning all petrol pumps owned by the state-owned oil companies were fully operational. “All depots of oil PSUs remained open on Sunday also to complete delivery of orders placed by retail outlets,” Mr Bakshi told ET.

He said the pumps could go dry by Tuesday evening, as panic buying could deplete the stocks. Mr Bakshi said the state government had asked the consumer outlets to be in a state of preparedness to serve the public, but “operating them is subject to a clearance by the central government, which is expected by tomorrow (Tuesday)”.