Fuel dealers threaten strike from June 1 over supply, high taxes

Jaipur: Fuel pump dealers in Rajasthan have threatened to go on strike from June 1, alleging persistent supply disruptions, financial stress and “harassment” by various govt departments despite repeated representations to authorities.In a memorandum submitted by the Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association to CM Bhajan Lal Sharma and senior officials, dealers said no concrete action was taken on their long-pending demands despite several communications and requests for meetings.The association claimed that oil companies were not supplying diesel and petrol according to demand and were allegedly imposing restrictions on fuel sales. Dealers said they were being forced to manage supplies under “unworkable conditions”, especially during peak agricultural demand.One of the major concerns raised was the alleged pressure from officials of the Legal Metrology Department. Dealers accused authorities of targeting petrol pumps over calibration and density-related inspections while ignoring lapses by equipment manufacturers and oil companies. The association alleged that heavy penalties were being imposed on dealers even for minor discrepancies.The memorandum also highlighted the growing problem of “dry outlets”, saying several petrol pumps were frequently running out of stock because of irregular supplies. Dealers warned that the situation could worsen during the sowing season when diesel demand rises sharply for agricultural activities.Another major issue raised was delayed reimbursement of dues related to fuel supplied during earlier govt welfare initiatives. Dealers claimed outstanding payments worth lakhs of rupees were still pending, putting severe pressure on their working capital.The association further demanded action against illegal biofuel and blended oil sales, alleging that despite repeated complaints, no effective crackdown had taken place.Dealers also urged the state govt to reduce Value Added Tax on petrol and diesel by at least 5%, arguing that fuel prices in the state were significantly higher than neighbouring states such as Haryana and Punjab.The association also flagged anomalies in CNG pricing and transportation charges, stating that consumers were increasingly preferring neighbouring states due to lower rates.