New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) Agitated over the government's inaction on the hike in VAT rates of diesel, petrol pump owners in the national capital today observed a complete shut down hitting normal life in Delhi.
Morning commuters bore the major brunt as the petrol pumps remained closed since last midnight.
However, 12 petrol pumps all over the city, belonging to Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum are open but vehicle owners have to wait for hours in long queues.
The closure protest has been called by Federation of All India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT).
FAIPT General Secretary Ajay Bansal told UNI that the government has failed to pay heed to the plight of petrol traders, who witnessed a loss of a staggering 48 per cent in diesel sales during April, 2010, in comparison to the same month in 2009.
Loss of Rs 350 crore was incurred during the period.
The VAT on diesel was raised from 12.5 per cent to 20 per cent. As a result, the difference between the rate of diesel in Delhi and in Haryana stood at Rs 4. ''Our demand is that the Delhi government should bring the diesel rate on the level of that in Haryana,'' Mr Bansal said.
All petroleum facilities will remain shut whether they were selling petrol, diesel or CNG, he added.
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